bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Real-Time Dual-Display Handheld and Bench-Top Hybrid-Mode SD-OCTs
Authors: Cho Nam , Park Kibeom , Wijesinghe Ruchire , Shin Yong , Jung Woonggyu , Kim Jeehyun
Published: January 2014

Development of a dual-display handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for retina and optic-nerve-head diagnosis beyond the volunteer motion constraints is reported. The developed system is portable and easily movable, containing the compact portable OCT system that includes the handheld probe and computer. Eye posterior chambers were diagnosed using the handheld probe, and the probe could be fixed to the bench-top cradle depending on the volunteers’ physical condition. The images obtained using this handheld probe were displayed in real time on the computer monitor and on a small secondary built-in monitor; the displayed images were saved using the handheld probe’s built-in button. Large-scale signal-processing procedures such as k-domain linearization, fast Fourier transform (FFT), and log-scaling signal processing can be rapidly applied using graphics-processing-unit (GPU) accelerated processing rather than central-processing-unit (CPU) processing. The Labview-based system resolution is 1,024 × 512 pixels, and the frame rate is 56 frames/s, useful for real-time display. The 3D images of the posterior chambers including the retina, optic-nerve head, blood vessels, and optic nerve were composed using real-time displayed images with 500 × 500 × 500 pixel resolution. A handheld and bench-top hybrid mode with a dual-display handheld OCT was developed to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional method.
Optimal Configuration for Relaxation Times Estimation in Complex Spin Echo Imaging
Authors: Baselice Fabio , Ferraioli Giampaolo , Grassia Alessandro , Pascazio Vito
Published: January 2014

Many pathologies can be identified by evaluating differences raised in the physical parameters of involved tissues. In a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) framework, spin-lattice T1 and spin-spin T2 relaxation time parameters play a major role in such an identification. In this manuscript, a theoretical study related to the evaluation of the achievable performances in the estimation of relaxation times in MRI is proposed. After a discussion about the considered acquisition model, an analysis on the ideal imaging acquisition parameters in the case of spin echo sequences, i.e., echo and repetition times, is conducted. In particular, the aim of the manuscript consists in providing an empirical rule for optimal imaging parameter identification with respect to the tissues under investigation. Theoretical results are validated on different datasets in order to show the effectiveness of the presented study and of the proposed methodology.
Strategies and Tools for Eco-Efficient Local Food Supply Scenarios
Authors: Caputo Paola , Ducoli Chiara , Clementi Matteo
Published: January 2014

Considering the wide demand for daily meals, the issue of the institutional food system has become very important in highly developed societies and, also, how it affects the flow of energy and matter within a territory. This research originates from a wide multi-disciplinary project aimed at developing a self-sufficient approach to improve the institutional food system in an area of Northern Italy. Thus, the aim of this research is to give some guidelines to implement ideal scenarios of food production, processing, consumption, and waste management at the local level. To that end, the organization of the supply and demand within the local institutional food system is inquired. A methodology has been developed to analyze the main energy flows and matter related to this catering, and to outline possible optimal scenarios. This methodology also allows to analyze case studies and to formulate improvements in order to reduce their energy consumption while exploring all the steps of the supply chain (considering the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach). The use of quantitative indicators allows a comparison of the impacts related to the different steps characterizing the suggested scenarios. This paper presents results related to a test in the context of institutional catering in public schools.
Soluble T Cell Receptor Vβ Domains Engineered for High-Affinity Binding to Staphylococcal or Streptococcal Superantigens
Authors: Sharma Preeti , Wang Ningyan , Kranz David
Published: January 2014

Staphylococcus aureus and group A Streptococcus secrete a collection of toxins called superantigens (SAgs), so-called because they stimulate a large fraction of an individual’s T cells. One consequence of this hyperactivity is massive cytokine release leading to severe tissue inflammation and, in some cases, systemic organ failure and death. The molecular basis of action involves the binding of the SAg to both a T cell receptor (TCR) on a T cell and a class II product of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on an antigen presenting cell. This cross-linking leads to aggregation of the TCR complex and signaling. A common feature of SAgs is that they bind with relatively low affinity to the variable region (V) of the beta chain of the TCR. Despite this low affinity binding, SAgs are very potent, as each T cell requires only a small fraction of their receptors to be bound in order to trigger cytokine release. To develop high-affinity agents that could neutralize the activity of SAgs, and facilitate the development of detection assays, soluble forms of the Vβ regions have been engineered to affinities that are up to 3 million-fold higher for the SAg. Over the past decade, six different Vβ regions against SAgs from S. aureus (SEA, SEB, SEC3, TSST-1) or S. pyogenes (SpeA and SpeC) have been engineered for high-affinity using yeast display and directed evolution. Here we review the engineering of these high-affinity Vβ proteins, structural features of the six different SAgs and the Vβ proteins, and the specific properties of the engineered Vβ regions that confer high-affinity and specificity for their SAg ligands.
Molecular and Biological Characterization of a New Isolate of Guinea Pig Cytomegalovirus
Authors: Schleiss Mark , McAllister Shane , Armién Anibal , Hernandez-Alvarado Nelmary , Fernández-Alarcón Claudia , Zabeli Jason , Ramaraj Thiruvarangan , Crow John , McVoy Michael
Published: January 2014

Development of a vaccine against congenital infection with human cytomegalovirus is complicated by the issue of re-infection, with subsequent vertical transmission, in women with pre-conception immunity to the virus. The study of experimental therapeutic prevention of re-infection would ideally be undertaken in a small animal model, such as the guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV) model, prior to human clinical trials. However, the ability to model re-infection in the GPCMV model has been limited by availability of only one strain of virus, the 22122 strain, isolated in 1957. In this report, we describe the isolation of a new GPCMV strain, the CIDMTR strain. This strain demonstrated morphological characteristics of a typical Herpesvirinae by electron microscopy. Illumina and PacBio sequencing demonstrated a genome of 232,778 nt. Novel open reading frames ORFs not found in reference strain 22122 included an additional MHC Class I homolog near the right genome terminus. The CIDMTR strain was capable of dissemination in immune compromised guinea pigs, and was found to be capable of congenital transmission in GPCMV-immune dams previously infected with salivary gland‑adapted strain 22122 virus. The availability of a new GPCMV strain should facilitate study of re-infection in this small animal model.
Inexact Mathematical Modeling for the Identification of Water Trading Policy under Uncertainty
Authors: Zeng Xueting , Li Yongping , Huang Guohe , Yu Liyang
Published: January 2014

In this study, a two-stage inexact credibility-constrained programming (TICP) method is developed for identifying the efficiency of water trading under multiple uncertainties. TICP can tackle uncertainties expressed as probabilistic distributions, discrete intervals and fuzzy sets. It can also provide an effective linkage between the benefits to the system and the associated economic penalties attributed to the violation of the predefined policies for water resource allocation. The developed TICP method is applied to a real case of water resource allocation management and planning in the Kaidu-kongque River Basin, which is a typical arid region in Northwest China. Different water resource allocation policies based on changes to the water permit and trading ratio levels are examined. The results indicate that the efficiencies of water trading are sensitive to the degrees of satisfaction (i.e., interval credibility levels), which correspond to different water resource management policies. Furthermore, the comparison of benefits and shortages between trading and non-trading schemes implies that trading is more optimal and effective than non-trading. The results are helpful for making decisions about water allocation in an efficient way and for gaining insight into the tradeoffs between water trading and economic objectives.
L'étranger, nouvel acteur du marché foncier local. Le cas du Tarn
Authors: Bages Robert , Puech Jean-Louis
Published: January 2014

Dans le contexte de recomposition sociale de l'espace rural français, les étrangers ont pris, à la fin des années 1980, une part de plus en plus active sur le marché foncier. Venue essentiellement des pays de l'Europe du Nord, cette vague d'immigration est portée par la recherche d'un cadre résidentiel et d'un mode de vie. Les prix avantageux du foncier et l'importance du parc immobilier font des campagnes françaises un espace attractif pour cette population. En achetant des maisons anciennes, ils apparaissent comme les garants de la sauvegarde du patrimoine local, mais aussi comme de redoutables concurrents sur ce marché de l'habitat traditionnel. Une étude récente sur le département du Tarn permet de mesurer l'ampleur du phénomène.
Agriculteurs néerlandais en France
Authors: Hoetjes Bernard
Published: January 2014

Dutch Farmers in France

A few thousand Dutch farmers have settled in France for several generations. Their experience is a mixed success. After a probatory period of three years, the usual delay after which they give up and return home, their integration is generally quite satisfactory and their abilities are acknowledged. Yet sometimes they had to wait for about ten years to make profits, for Dutch farmers cannot take advantage of the credits which are allocated to their French counterparts.
Nouveaux habitants dans un pays de moyenne montagne
Authors: Fourny Marie-Christine
Published: January 2014

New Inhabitants in a Medium Mountain District

This article deals with a medium mountain area with a strong rural identity which has witnessed important migrant waves for about ten years. In their imagination the newcomers project their wishes on the territory which welcomes them. The local surroundings, through what they come to symbolize, then constitute the setting in which they look for their identity. The specificities of the territory take on a new significance. However their preservation proves necessary to answer the expectations of the new inhabitants. By participating in the restructuration of local territories, the latter make the creation of a new territoriality possible.
Le savoir-faire des fromagers suisses de la France de l'Est (1850-1950)
Authors: Delfosse Claire
Published: January 2014

L'émigration des éleveurs et des fromagers suisses vers la France relève de parcours individuels et familiaux, et constitue un moyen d'ascension sociale fondée sur des acquis techniques. Cette immigration contribue à l'introduction d'un nouveau fromage - l'emmental -, à l'évolution des coopératives fromagères, ainsi qu'au développement et à l'amélioration de l'élevage. La réussite économique et sociale des fromagers suisses suppose un accord avec le milieu local. Elle ne repose pas seulement sur la qualité des immigrants et l'ancienneté du mouvement, mais aussi sur l'implication des Suisses dans la vie locale et leur volonté d'intégration qui est mêlée d'attachement et de fidélité à la mère patrie.
Innovations étrangères dans les campagnes nantaises au début du XIXe siècle
Authors: Bourrigaud René
Published: January 2014

Dans les campagnes nantaises qui commencent à se transformer à partir de 1820-1830, des entreprises dirigées par des étrangers à la région jouent un rôle d'impulsion dans le progrès technique et la transformation des rapports sociaux. Deux expériences sont analysées : celle d'une communauté composée de moines britanniques et d'anciens émigrés français ; celle qui est initiée par un armateur nantais d'origine hollandaise et développée par un Alsacien, Jules Rieffel. La première, de modèle autarcique, connaît un succès rapide mais bref. La seconde, en prise sur le milieu social, marquera tout le développement agricole de l'Ouest de la France au XIXe siècle
Le barbier et ses clients. Usages diversifiés des codes culturels et permanence de l'Inde rurale
Authors: Allan Heinrich Steven , Landy Frédéric
Published: January 2014

Dans bien des sociétés, les individus parviennent à utiliser des codes culturels multiples et passent de l'un à l'autre lors de leurs migrations. Mais ce qui fait la spécificité de l'Inde, c'est une multiplicité culturelle simultanée, qui permet de passer d'un code culturel à l'autre instantanément et en tous lieux, et donc de faire coexister sans déchirement, au sein de la société, culture traditionnelle et culture « cosmopolite » contemporaine. L'analyse des comportements de la clientèle d'un barbier de village dans l'Inde du Sud montre qu'il existe dans la société une diversité culturelle intériorisée par l'individu, qui peut expliquer la relative stabilité du pays.
L'industrie du coïr au Kerala. Économie traditionnelle et mutations sociales
Authors: Kennedy Loraine
Published: January 2014

The Coir Industry in Kerala. Traditional Economy and Social Change

Coir has been produced for centuries in Kerala and even today this traditional industry provides employment to many people, especially women. However it is currently experiencing severe economic hardship due to a drop in demand on international markets and to increased competition. The recovery plan put forward by the government, which involves adopting more modern techniques, reflects the changes occuring in Kerala society. Indeed massive emigration toward the Golf countries has accelerated the transformations already underway, and consequent improvements in living standards have contributed to a growing disdain for hard manual labour, such as that required in the coir industry.
Les modalités du partage égalitaire. L'exemple du Val de Saône aux XVIIIe XIXe siècles
Authors: Gonod Philippe
Published: January 2014

Equal Shares. Val de Saône in the 18th and 19th Centuries

The devolution of real estate in rural societies based on equal sharing mainly depends on changes in the relation between the population and resources. Given demographic trends, peasant communities in the Val de Saône, France, modified, as of the 18th century, devolution based on joint ownership. Concern for respecting the principle of equality but the ever later access to ownership by heirs made it more difficult to face the critical moment of devolution. Disturbances during the French Revolution upset this fine balance more than did the Civil Code, since the potential claim to a share of inheritance by a single family member already represented a permanent menace to the family community's unity.
De la réforme foncière à la collectivisation en Allemagne orientale
Authors: Bauerkämper Arnd
Published: January 2014

Cet article analyse les conséquences de la politique agraire sur la structure de la société rurale dans la zone d'occupation soviétique, puis en RDA, de 1945 à 1952. À l'expropriation des grands propriétaires (Junker) stipulée par la réforme agraire de 1945 et à l'éviction systématique des gros paysans entreprise à partir de 1948-1949 s'oppose dans les années cinquante la formation d'un groupe de nouveaux paysans soutenus économiquement et socialement par le régime comme l'étaient les petits et moyens anciens cultivateurs et les travailleurs agricoles. Ces nouveaux paysans - en particulier les réfugiés - ne sont pas toujours bien accueillis dans les milieux villageois.
À qui appartient la terre transylvaine ?
Authors: Sterbling Anton
Published: January 2014

Who Owns the Land in Transylvania ?

In Transylvania, which became Romanian following World War I, the agrarian question has for centuries been a source of controversy in a context of particularly strong interethnic tensions. Neither the reforms conducted during the interwar period nor the collectivization imposed by the communists settled these problems. National and nationalist interests, which have fanned ever smoldering conflicts between speakers of German, Hungarian and Romanian, have always determined Translyvanian land policy, in particular under Ceauşescu.
Enjeux de la privatisation foncière en ex-RDA
Authors: Gerbaud Florent
Published: January 2014

Stakes in the Privatization of Land in the Former German Democratic Republic

Following German reunification, a phase of leasing preceded the privatization of land in the new Lander. This was necessary in order to solve the problems raised by the restitution of « people's land ». Claimants who applied for leases were classified in six categories, and the duration of these rentals was established in view of locally prevailing land pressure. The results of this policy, which largely prefigured privatization, account for the diversity of regional rationales applied in setting up new farmers.
Bulgarie : une réforme agraire sans paysans
Authors: Giordano Christian , Kostova Dobrinka
Published: January 2014

En 1991, le gouvernement bulgare adopte une loi foncière révisée en 1992 et à nouveau en 1995. Cette réforme vise à restituer aux propriétaires de 1946 leurs terres et à restaurer ainsi la petite propriété. En outre, les gouvernements successifs cherchent par là à « décommuniser » les campagnes. L'étude des modalités d'application de la loi de 1991 dans la région de la Dobroudja (nord-est du pays) montre que, contrairement à ce qu'on aurait pu attendre, les membres de l'ancienne élite locale ont su tirer parti de la « transition » : ils sont devenus des « grands fermiers » (arendatori) auxquels les nouveaux propriétaires confient leurs terres en échange d'une rente foncière modique.
« Chacun laboure comme il peut ». Un village de Grande Pologne face à la transition
Authors: Buchowski Michal
Published: January 2014

« Everyone Tills the Land as He Can » : A Village in Great Poland Faces Transition

Since 1989, in Dziekanowice, part of the land belonging to the old state farm has been rented out to farmers, and the rest to a private agricultural company. The village's population comprises four social categories : intellectual workers (employees of the local museum), the farming proletariat (former state farm employees), the rural proletariat (landless families) and farmers (who both own and work land). The market economy has caused traditional conflicts to flare up again between groups of villagers while at the same time creating new ones.
De Bruxelles à la ferme : environnement et agriculteurs en Belgique
Authors: Mormont Marc
Published: January 2014

From Brussels to the farm : The environment and farmers in Belgium

The environmental policies applied to farming mainly stem from EU initiatives. To effect changes in agricultural practices, they imply that member countries, regions and local authorities will successively reformulate them. How has this process taken place in Belgium ? Regionalization in 1980 and the installation of a Federal state ten years later have reshaped powers. The environment has acquired a central role as a source of political legitimacy. Beyond this trend, a series of interpretations made at the local level can be analyzed as a joint restructuring of networks and identities.
Conflits entre protecteurs et producteurs dans la campagne irlandaise
Authors: Tovey Hilary
Published: January 2014

Dans cet article, on traite des relations entre l'activité agricole et l'environnement en Irlande en s'attachant à caractériser les préoccupations des ruraux et celles des urbains, les intérêts des agriculteurs et ceux des protecteurs de la nature. Après une description des formes techniques, économiques et sociales des exploitations, l'auteur montre l'ambivalence qui caractérise celles-ci, à la fois préjudiciables à l'environnement et productrices de la campagne en tant que milieu social. L'antagonisme entre les agriculteurs et les défenseurs de la nature doit être étudié à la lumière des représentations et des intérêts de chaque groupe et être interprété à partir des changements intervenus ces dernières années dans les rapports entre urbains et ruraux. Enfin, on s'interroge sur les conséquences prévisibles de l'application du nouveau programme agri-environnemental (le REPS) pour les exploitants comme pour les consommateurs.
Maîtres du sol et dieux du territoire au Ladakh
Authors: Dollfus Pascale
Published: January 2014

Masters of the land and gods of the territory in Ladakh

Masters of the land and gods of the territory populate the landscape alongside people in Ladakh, a former Buddhist kingdom along the border with Tibet. Thanks to their ability to act on natural and atmospheric phenomena, they are preferred intermediaries, worshiped as much as feared. Material collected in settled fanning communities in the upper Indus valley serves to provide an account of the diversity of the cults observed for these entities by Tibetan groups. The significance of these cults varies as a function of the group's geographical location, history and way of life.
Entre ciel et terre : médiations divines chez les T'aï
Authors: Formoso Bernard
Published: January 2014

L'auteur examine les changements que la conversion au bouddhisme d'une partie des peuples de langue t'aï a suscités, tant au niveau de leur cosmologie et de leurs conceptions sotériologiques, qu'à celui plus particulier des cultes rendus aux divinités du sol et des croyances correspondantes. Il montre notamment que le ciel, vers lequel étaient orientées la plupart des pratiques religieuses d'avant l'indianisation, a perdu de son importance en contexte bouddhique au profit de la terre et du monde souterrain. L'analyse fait ressortir d'intéressants phénomènes de fusion, de substitution, ou d'adaptation réciproque entre certaines entités prébouddhiques et d'autres que la religion de l'Illuminé a introduites localement.
L'abattage dans la tradition juive.
Authors: Nizard Sophie
Published: January 2014

Ritual slaughtering practices in Judaism : A symbolic process and textualization

The Judaic rites (chekhita) for slaughtering animals and the Biblical and Talmudic laws about how to treat animals are placed in perspective. Although the persons involved and those who comment on the texts about the chekhita always mention the limitation of all suffering, the prohibition on blood stands out. Owing to its symbolism, it raises fundamental questions about purity and impurity, life and death. Consuming meat is lawful only if a ceremony raises the animal's status. By analyzing the issues arising out of the mad cow disease, Judaism's principles about treating animals are compared with modern practices in breeding and slaughtering livestock.
Sanglant mais juste : l'abattage en islam
Authors: Benkheira Hocine
Published: January 2014

Dieu, Créateur de toute vie, peut seul décider de la mort. Tuer un homme ou un animal, c'est se substituer à Lui. Il a cependant permis aux hommes de tuer des animaux en cas de nécessité, pour se nourrir essentiellement, éventuellement pour se défendre. Un important corpus de prescriptions régit et organise la relation des musulmans aux animaux domestiques et sauvages. Le respect de ces règles, en particulier de celles ayant trait à l'abattage rituel, permet de socialiser la mort animale en contrôlant la violence humaine.
La garrigue, monde de l'écarlate
Authors: Cardon Dominique
Published: January 2014

Scrubland, the world of scarlet -

The kermès (vermiculus in medieval Latin) parasitize the "kermès oak"; their dried bodies are used to make scarlet, the most prestigious red dye during the Middle Ages. The harvest of this dyestuff and international trade in it were so profitable that systems were set for managing scrublands in many mediterranean regions so as to favor the proliferation of this scale insect. This species and its natural environment waned and eventually disappeared as cochineal from America in the 16th century and chemical dyes more recently replaced this scarlet.
Pratiques judiciaires, droits de propriété et attitudes de classe.
Authors: Congost Rosa
Published: January 2014

Judiciary practices, property rights and class attitudes. - The 18th century Catalonian example This article dwells on the origins of the modern concept of property. This analysis of 18th century judicial practices in matters of property rights in two neighboring rural areas in Catalonia (Em- pordà and Roussillon) highlights the abuses committed by a minority of wealthy owners against the rest of the population. This study refers to research by English academics who relativize the economic importance of enclosures and emphasize the social problems inherent in any change affecting customary uses of the land.
DECISION MAKING WITH DEMPSTER-SHAFER BELIEF STRUCTURE AND THE OWAWA OPERATOR
Authors: Merigo José M. , Engemann Kurt J. , Palacios-Marques Daniel
Published: January 2014

A new decision making model that uses the weighted average and the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator in the Dempster-Shafer belief structure is presented. Thus, we are able to represent the decision making problem considering objective and subjective information and the attitudinal character of the decision maker. For doing so, we use the ordered weighted averaging – weighted average (OWAWA) operator. It is an aggregation operator that unifies the weighted average and the OWA in the same formulation. This approach is generalized by using quasi-arithmetic means and group decision making techniques. An application of the new approach in a group decision making problem concerning political management of a country is also developed.
COMPLEMENTARITIES OF R&D STRATEGIES ON INNOVATION PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM TAIWANESE MANUFACTURING FIRMS
Authors: Lin Eric S. , Hsiao Yi-Chi , Lin Hui-lin
Published: January 2014

This paper aims to empirically test the R&D complementarities among three alternative R&D strategies, namely, internal R&D, external R&D and cooperative R&D, under different measures of innovation output. Using a firm-level data set based on the Taiwanese innovation survey (in accordance with CIS 3) conducted in 2003, we are able to compare the R&D activities in this newly-industrialized country with other developed countries. Additionally, we apply a two-step procedure to reduce the endogeneity problem caused by the firms’ choices of strategies to obtain consistent estimators, which can be regarded as a combined method of adoption and productivity approaches. We show that the results of the estimation for R&D complementarities may be biased upwards or downwards if we do not include selection equations in the empirical models, thereby giving rise to endogeneity problems. Our empirical results generally support the existence of R&D complementarities, while the strength of complementary effects may vary across different measures of innovation output. Moreover, our finding suggests that the complementary relationship between external and cooperative R&D is fairly robust to various model specifications.
FORECASTING TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY USING NEURAL NETWORKS
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Kasthurirangan , Gkritza Konstantina Nadia
Published: January 2014

Iowa is a state rich in renewable energy resources, especially biomass. The successful development of renewable energy industry in Iowa is concomitant with increase in freight traffic and is likely to have significant impacts on transportation infrastructure condition and increased maintenance expenses for the state and local governments. The primary goal of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of employing the Neural Networks (NN) methodology to forecast the impacts of Iowa's biofuels and wind power industries on Iowa's secondary and local road condition and maintenance-related costs in a panel data framework. The data for this study were obtained from a number of sources and for a total of 24 counties in clusters in Northern, Western, and Southern Iowa over a period of ten years. Back-Propagation NN (BPNN) using a Quasi-Newton secondorder training algorithm was chosen for this study owing to its very fast convergence properties. Since the size of the training set is relatively small, ensembles of well-trained NNs were formed to achieve significant improvements in generalization performance. The developed NN forecasting models could identify the presence of biofuel plants and wind farms as well as large-truck traffic as the most sensitive inputs influencing pavement condition and granular and blading maintenance costs. Pavement deterioration resulting from traffic loads was found to be associated with the presence of both biofuel plants and wind farms. The developed NN forecasting models can be useful in identifying and properly evaluating future transportation infrastructure impacts resulting from the renewable energy industry development and thus help Iowa maintain its competitive edge in the rapidly developing bioeconomy.
FINANCIAL VARIABLES AND THE OUT-OF-SAMPLE FORECASTABILITY OF THE GROWTH RATE OF INDIAN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
Authors: Gupta Rangan , Ye Yuxiang , Sako Christopher M.
Published: January 2014

In this paper, we consider the forecasting power, both in- and out-of-sample, of 11 financial variables with respect to the growth rate of Indian industrial production over the monthly out-ofsample period of 2005:4–2011:4, using an in-sample of 1994:1–2005:3. The financial variables used are: M0, M1, M2, M3, lending rate, 3-month Treasury bill rate, term spread, real effective exchange rate, real stock prices, dividend yield and non-food credit growth. We observe that that, at times, in-sample and out-of-sample predictive ability of the financial variables tend to coincide. We find relatively strong evidence of out-of-sample predictability for at least one of the horizons for M0, M1, M2, M3, the lending rate and real share price growth rate. The term-spread and dividend yield are added to the list when weaker versions of the out-of-sample test statistics are considered as well. Given that we consider a large number of financial variables, when we checked the significant results by accounting for data mining across the 11 financial variables, majority of these results ceases to be significant, with only M0, M1 and M2 retaining some of its predictive ability.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM (CDM) PROJECTS: LESSONS FROM CHINA
Authors: Xie Linna , Zeng Saixing , Zou Hailiang , Tam Vivian W. Y. , Wu Zhenhua
Published: January 2014

China has become the largest host country of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in the world. This article provides an assessment of international technology transfer (TT) based on 500 registered Chinese CDM projects. It reveals that the projects hosted by large state-owned enterprises (SOEs), not Hydro and Wind projects, with foreign consultants or developers, commonly involve TT. Projects located in the comparatively developed regions such as Eastern China are more likely to involve TT. The findings indicate that the mitigation potential of non-SOEs, energy efficiency (EE) and other projects, has not been fully explored in China, which can be facilitated using advanced mitigation technologies.
CHALLENGES TO CHINA'S NEW STOCK MARKET FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZE ENTERPRISES: TRADING PRICE FALLS BELOW THE IPO PRICE
Authors: Guo Haifeng , Wang Tienan , Li Yijun , Fung Hung-Gay
Published: January 2014

This study discusses the development of the Growth Enterprise Board (GEB), a part of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE), which allows small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) to raise capital on favourable terms by issuing shares in China. We use all initial public offerings (IPOs) in the GEB market to model the probability of the trading price for new issues that will fall below their IPO price from October 2009 to December 31, 2011. Three probability models (logit, probit and scobit models) are used. The results show that four important factors explain the probability of trading price falling below their IPO price. A high first-day turnover ratio, a small price update, an optimistic stock market, and high average initial returns of other firms prior to an IPO issue all reduce the risk that the trading price will fall below the IPO price. The stock market returns have a non-linear significant effect on that probability. Our results are useful for regulators, underwriters, and issuers in the development of the GEB market.
FEATURES OF THE DISCIPLINE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA
Authors: Shan Wei , Liu Chen , Yu Jing
Published: January 2014

Interdisciplinary knowledge exchange constitutes a network with discipline nodes and knowledge flow edges. Using data on Chinese academic literature, the current paper establishes a discipline knowledge network and analyses its structural features. Citation analysis is first used to measure the flow of knowledge between disciplines to build a discipline knowledge network. Subsequently, the features of the network, such as degree distribution, degree correlation, knowledge flow mode and other structure properties, are then analysed based on complex networks and social network theory. The tail of the degree distribution of this discipline knowledge network is in concordance with exponential distribution. The network has also a distinct hierarchical structure. Moreover, the knowledge flow between disciplines is directional. It flows from certain basic and academic disciplines to the applied disciplines.
METHODS FOR PROBABILISTIC DECISION MAKING WITH LINGUISTIC INFORMATION
Authors: Wei Guiwu , Zhao Xiaofei
Published: January 2014

With respect to decision making problems by using probabilities, immediate probabilities and information that can be represented with linguistic labels, some new decision analysis are proposed. Firstly, we shall develop three new aggregation operators: generalized probabilistic 2-tuple weighted average (GP-2TWA) operator, generalized probabilistic 2-tuple ordered weighted average (GP-2TOWA) operator and generalized immediate probabilistic 2-tuple ordered weighted average (GIP-2TOWA) operator. These operators use the weighted average (WA) operator, the ordered weighted average (OWA) operator, linguistic information, probabilistic information and immediate probabilistic information. They are quite useful because they can assess the uncertain information within the problem by using both linguistic labels and the probabilistic information that considers the attitudinal character of the decision maker. In these approaches, alternative appraisal values are calculated by the aggregation of 2-tuple linguistic information. Thus, the ranking of alternative or selection of the most desirable alternative(s) is obtained by the comparison of 2-tuple linguistic information. Finally, we give an illustrative example about selection of strategies to verify the developed approach and to demonstrate its feasibility and practicality.
Connectivité et gouvernance des systèmes socio-écologiques multiniveaux : le rôle du capital social
Authors: Brondizio Eduardo S. , Ostrom Elinor , Young Oran R.
Published: January 2014

Cet article étudie les défis rencontrés par la gouvernance environnementale sous l’effet combiné de la connectivité accrue des systèmes d’exploitation des ressources et des interdépendances fonctionnelles croissantes des systèmes socio-écologiques. Nous nous pencherons sur l’exemple du Parc indigène du Xingu (PIX) au Brésil et de sa région agro-industrielle environnante, avant d’élargir notre examen à la littérature consacrée à la gouvernance des ressources, dans laquelle nous mettrons en évidence les points de consensus et de divergences. Notre propos sera de montrer qu’aucun niveau spatial ou temporel fixe ne se suffit à lui-même pour parvenir à une gouvernance durable, efficace et équitable des écosystèmes et de leurs services. Nous soulignerons ainsi la nécessité de reconnaître le caractère multi-niveaux de ces enjeux, ainsi que le rôle facilitateur joué, à l’égard de la gouvernance environnementale transversale, par les institutions, composante d’autant plus importante du capital social qu’elle conditionne la protection à long terme des écosystèmes et du bien-être des différentes populations.
Gouvernance d'Internet, gouvernance de Wikipedia : l'apport des analyses d'E. Ostrom sur l'action collective auto-organisée
Authors: Fallery Bernard , Rodhain Florence
Published: January 2014

Quel pourrait être l’apport des analyses d’E. Ostrom dans le champ de la gouvernance sur Internet ? Nous justifions d’abord notre appel au modèle du choix institutionnel, en montrant que le « système Internet » ne relève plus seulement d’une évidente logique de biens privés et d’une claire logique de biens publics, mais aussi aujourd’hui d’une nouvelle logique « d’appropriateurs » de ressources limitées, au sens de E. Ostrom (et notamment des ressources énergétiques et environnementales). Nous analysons ensuite la gouvernance de l’institution Internet comme un régime de légitimité faible (associant autorégulation libertaire, co-régulation normative et multi-régulation organisée), puis la gouvernance du collectif Wikipedia comme un régime de consensus approché (associant vigilance mutuelle, régulation des conflits et sanctions graduées). Les analyses d’E. Ostrom sur les systèmes auto-organisés permettent enfin de justifier pour Internet la légitimité du contrôle local (à chacun des trois niveaux de règles que distingue E. Ostrom : choix opérationnels, choix collectifs et choix constitutionnels) et la nécessaire réflexivité des choix (dans ce que E. Ostrom appelle les multiples arènes locales, où s’élaborent ces règles).
Geoelectrical monitoring of frozen ground and permafrost in alpine areas: field studies and considerations towards an improved measuring technology
Authors: Supper Robert , Ottowitz David , Jochum Birgit , Römer Alexander , Pfeiler Stefan , Kauer Stefanie , Keuschnig Markus , Ita Anna
Published: January 2014

Processes that control permafrost warming in Alpine regions are still not completely understood. Recently, geoelectrical monitoring has emerged as a useful tool to investigate thawing and freezing processes. However, high resistive environments and harsh environmental conditions pose very unfavourable conditions for automated resistivity measurements. Based on the results of several test studies, an improved data acquisition system for geoelectrical monitoring of frozen soils was developed. Furthermore, the implementation of algorithms for statistical analysis of raw data time series led to a significant improvement in the reliability of inversion results. At two Alpine sites, namely Molltaler Glacier and Magnetkopfl/Kitzsteinhorn, the adapted system was tested at soil temperature conditions between 0°C and –12°C. Data was continuously collected at both locations over nearly a full seasonal cycle. The results showed an almost linear dependency of resistivity and temperature at values above –0.5°C. At lower temperatures, the relation was non‐linear, indicating that the reduction of porosity due to the shrinking of connected brine channels was the dominating process that determined the value of resistivity. Based on the derived results, further improvements were suggested, especially for measurements at soil temperatures below –4.5°C as low injection currents make it extremely challenging to gather these.
Frozen ground dynamics resolved by multi‐year and year‐round electrical resistivity monitoring at three alpine sites in the Swiss Alps
Authors: Kneisel C. , Rödder T. , Schwindt D.
Published: January 2014

Frozen ground characteristics resolved by annual, seasonal/monthly and daily electrical resistivity monitoring are presented based on case studies from three alpine sites in the Swiss Alps with different surface conditions and subsurface process dynamics.

Data acquisition is achieved by different set‐ups ranging from low‐cost to automated and more expensive monitoring strategies. To ensure the reproducibility of measurement results a robust setup is required within the rough surface conditions of alpine environments, and this constitutes a fundamental precondition for time‐lapse measurements.

The selected different monitoring approaches allow for a detection and analysis of processes related to frozen ground dynamics on varying timescales. The interpretation of the geophysical data is improved by temperature measurements from various data loggers and borehole data.

All three approaches allowed detection of the interface between frozen and unfrozen ground. The variation of the frequency of measurements enabled exploration of the specific permafrost‐related problems. At one site, the multi‐annual resistivity distribution at the end of the thawing period revealed fairly stable permafrost conditions, while at the second site, year‐round measurements showed extremely divergent evolution of resistivity values in the subsurface throughout the measurement period, which could be ascribed to different site‐specific environmental parameters. Using measurements with daily resolution at the third field site, the rapid decrease in subsurface resistivity values due to the infiltration of meltwater in spring could be documented. The presented results show that the different monitoring set‐ups have their justification and are able to monitor timedependent subsurface dynamics within the scale of their temporal resolution.

The operation of an automated monitoring system allows for very efficient observation especially of short‐time processes within the active layer and the frozen ground below, the major advantage in comparison to non‐automated monitoring approaches. However, the system is cost‐intensive, requires an extensive infrastructure, and is more prone to environmental forces. For monitoring the inter‐annual and long‐term permafrost evolution, application of a fixed monitoring set‐up that is accessible throughout the year and measured manually has proven to be a robust and cost‐efficient alternative. Focusing on the long‐term permafrost evolution, set‐ups using fixed electrodes and measurements conducted as needed with a brought‐along cable is a legitimate approach. Hence, for studies in alpine permafrost environments, choice of the monitoring set‐up remains a question of the scientific problem, infrastructure facilities, and cost‐efficiency.
Orphan-Free Consistent Condition for Log-Based Checkpointing and Rollback Recovery Scheme
Authors: Xu Zhenpeng , Yin Zhenxing , Wang Lili
Published: January 2014

The fundamental goal of the log-based fault-tolerant scheme is to bring the system into a consistent global state without any orphan inconsistence. However, the existing Alvisi’s No-Orphans Consistency Condition is only sufficient on condition that the set of local checkpoints of failure processes keep consistent always. Independent of the specific log-based checkpointing and rollback-recovery fault tolerant scheme, an extended orphan-free consistency condition is derived based on PWD assumption in this paper. The definitions of the orphan inconsistence among the process state and the nondeterministic event during a rollback recovery were extended. Finally the essential requirement for message logs was specified to eliminate the possible orphan inconsistence among the process state during a rollback recovery. By contrast, the proposal is a practical and efficient constraint for the orphan-free recovery.
Sensors Network for Ultrasonic Ranging System
Authors: Gao Tao , Yao Zhenjing
Published: January 2014

The spectrum matching and correlation characteristic are both important in the multiple-user ultrasonic ranging system. As people know, an ultrasonic ranging system, which has a bell-shaped magnitude spectrum, acts like a band-pass filter. If the spectrum of the excitation signal does not match that of the ultrasonic ranging system, some of energy cannot be transmitted by the ultrasonic system. In other words, it does not make full use of the bandwidth of the ultrasonic ranging system. The good correlation characteristics can eliminate cross-talk among multichannel ultrasonic sensors firing simultaneously. To the authors’ knowledge, not many researchers considered how to make the spectrum of the excitation sequence match to that of the ultrasonic ranging system as well as improve the correlation characteristics. In this paper, the chaotic frequency modulation (CFM) excitation sequences are proposed for multiple-user ultrasonic ranging system. To obtain the excitation sequences which are spectrally matched to the ultrasonic ranging system as well as have the best correlation characteristic, the NSGA-II is applied to optimize the CFM excitation sequences.
Reading Online and Offline
Authors: Son Jeong-Bae
Published: January 2014

Reading online is different from reading offline. Are language teachers’ strategies for reading electronic texts and reading printed texts different? Do language teachers have different attitudes toward reading printed texts and reading electronic texts, particularly web-based reading materials? Several groups of in-service language teachers enrolled in a postgraduate course on computer-assisted language learning offered by an Australian university were asked to respond to these questions in online discussion forums. This article presents data from the discussion forums and investigates the teachers’ perspectives on online reading, while exploring the differences between online reading and offline reading and the advantages and disadvantages of the two forms of reading. Findings indicate that many teachers liked to download and print study materials for both physical and academic reasons. While most teachers preferred to read online for accessing study materials, they preferred to print out copies for more detailed reading of journal articles. These results have implications for language teacher education and professional development in e-learning environments.
U-FADE
Authors: Wiafe Isaac
Published: January 2014

Although persuasive technology continues to impact behavioural and attitudinal interventions, research has demonstrated that existing design approaches are faced with limitations that impede their effective use. Mostly, they become obsolete, as user needs change during the use of the persuasive application. This research therefore proposes the Unified Framework for Analysing, Designing and Evaluating persuasive systems (U-FADE). The proposed framework integrates concepts from various existing models to provide a systematic approach that facilitates persuasive design. It addresses the issue of changing needs of users by considering external and internal activities that may promote or impede persuasion before and during implementation.
Persuasion, Learning and Context Adaptation
Authors: Gram-Hansen Sandra Burri , Ryberg Thomas
Published: January 2014

This paper further develops the notion of distinguishing between Persuasive Technology and Persuasive Design, and considering Persuasive Design a meta-perspective which may be applied to more established design traditions as an ethics and context-oriented perspective. The paper addresses a challenge often met when aiming to apply persuasive design principles to more established design fields, namely that the unique claim of persuasive design and the relevance of taking it into consideration is unclear. Furthermore, this paper aims to extend the argumentation and exemplify how this new understanding of Persuasive Design may potentially facilitate the more established field of technology enhanced learning.