bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Mutual Coupling on Stability of RCS Response in Chipless RFID
Authors: Machac Jan , Boussada Amine , Svanda Milan , Havlicek Jaroslav , Polivka Milan
Published: July 2018

The paper investigates the influence of mutual coupling between individual scatterings of chipless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags based on its frequency-domain performance using a simplified equivalent circuit model. The proposed steady state analysis predicts a fast and satisfactory amplitude level and frequency position of resonant peaks of a predicted radar cross section (RCS) response. The proposed approach is capable of pre-evaluating a suitability of the particular scattered topology for implementing in chipless RFID tags. It is demonstrated on two different geometries.
Overcoming Resistance in a BRAF V600e–Mutant Adenocarcinoma of the Lung
Authors: Schmid T. , Buess M.
Published: July 2018

We report on a patient with an adenocarcinoma of the lung harbouring a BRAF V600E mutation who benefited from combination therapy with dabrafenib–trametinib after developing resistance to vemurafenib. To our knowledge, our report shows, for the first time, that combination therapy with dabrafenib–trametinib can overcome vemurafenib resistance in a BRAF V600E–mutated adenocarcinoma of the lung.
Metal-free catalysis based on nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterials: a photoelectron spectroscopy point of view
Authors: Scardamaglia Mattia , Bittencourt Carla
Published: July 2018

In this review, we discuss the use of doped carbon nanomaterials in catalysis, a subject that is currently intensively studied. The availability of carbon nanotubes since the 1990’s and of graphene ten years later prompted the development of novel nanotechnologies. We review this topic linking fundamental surface science to the field of catalysis giving a timely picture of the state of the art. The main scientific questions that material scientists have addressed in the last decades are described, in particular the enduring debate on the role of the different nitrogen functionalities in the catalytic activity of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes and graphene.
Spots, Flares, Accretion, and Obscuration in the Pre-main-sequence Binary DQ Tau
Authors: Kóspál Á. , Ábrahám P. , Zsidi G. , Vida K. , Szabó R. , Moór A. , Pál A.
Published: July 2018

DQ Tau is a young low-mass spectroscopic binary, consisting of two almost equal-mass stars on a 15.8 day period surrounded by a circumbinary disk. Here, we analyze DQ Tau’s light curves obtained by Kepler K2, the Spitzer
Space Telescope, and ground-based facilities. We observed variability phenomena, including rotational modulation by stellar spots, brief brightening events due to stellar flares, long brightening events around periastron due to increased accretion, and short dips due to brief circumstellar obscuration. The rotational modulation appears as a sinusoidal variation with a period of 3.017 days. In our model, this is caused by extended stellar spots 400 K colder than the stellar effective temperature. During our 80 day long monitoring, we detected 40 stellar flares with energies up to 1.2 × 1035 erg and duration of a few hours. The flare profiles closely resemble those in older late-type stars, and their occurrence does not correlate with either the rotational or the orbital period. We observe elevated accretion rates of up to 5 × 10−8
M
⊙ yr−1 around each periastron. Our Spitzer data suggest that the increased accretion luminosity temporarily heats up the inner part of the circumbinary disk by about 100 K. We found an inner disk radius of 0.13 au, significantly smaller than expected from dynamical modeling of circumbinary disks. Interestingly, the inner edge of the disk corotates with the binary’s orbit. DQ Tau also shows short dips of <0.1 mag in its light curve, reminiscent of the well-known “dipper phenomenon” observed in many low-mass young stars.
Spatial Distribution of the Milky Way Hot Gaseous Halo Constrained by Suzaku X-Ray Observations
Authors: Nakashima Shinya , Inoue Yoshiyuki , Yamasaki Noriko , Sofue Yoshiaki , Kataoka Jun , Sakai Kazuhiro
Published: July 2018

The formation mechanism of the hot gaseous halo associated with the Milky Way is still under debate. We report new observational constraints on the gaseous halo using 107 lines of sight of the Suzaku X-ray observations at 75° < l < 285° and

with a total exposure of 6.4 Ms. The gaseous halo spectra are represented by a single-temperature plasma model in collisional ionization equilibrium. The median temperature of the observed fields is 0.26 keV (3.0 × 106 K) with a typical fluctuation of ∼30%. The emission measure varies by an order of magnitude and marginally correlates with the Galactic latitude. Despite the large scatter of the data, the emission measure distribution is roughly reproduced by a disk-like density distribution with a scale length of ∼7 kpc, a scale height of ∼2 kpc, and a total mass of ∼5 × 107
M
☉. In addition, we found that a spherical hot gas with the β-model profile hardly contributes to the observed X-rays but that its total mass might reach ≳109
M
☉. Combined with indirect evidence of an extended gaseous halo from other observations, the hot gaseous halo likely consists of a dense disk-like component and a rarefied spherical component; the X-ray emissions primarily come from the former, but the mass is dominated by the latter. The disk-like component likely originates from stellar feedback in the Galactic disk due to the low scale height and the large scatter of the emission measures. The median [O/Fe] of ∼0.25 shows the contribution of the core-collapse supernovae and supports the stellar feedback origin.
Phylogeny of Muhlenbergia subg. Pseudosporobolus, including M. spatha (Poaceae, Chloridoideae, Cynodonteae, Muhlenbergiinae) now found in Zacatecas, Mexico
Authors: Peterson Paul M. , Arrieta Yolanda Herrera , Romaschenko Konstantin
Published: July 2018

Muhlenbergiaspatha, previously known only from near the type locality in San Luis Potosí, is reported from two localities in Zacatecas, Mexico. Historically, botanists have overlooked this diminutive annual. To clarify affinities of M.spatha, we present a molecular phylogeny emphasising species in M.subg.Pseudosporobolus using sequence data from two plastid markers (rpl32-trnL and rps16 intron) and nrDNA ITS. In addition, we include an updated description, illustration and discussion of the habitat of M.spatha.
L’idée de Nation dans la jurisprudence administrative récente
Authors: Seurot Laurent
Published: July 2018

L’objet de cette contribution est de voir comment il est possible d’inscrire certaines jurisprudences administratives récentes dans la conception française de la nation. Telle qu’elle a été formulée par Ernest Renan, cette conception française de la nation comporte deux dimensions : « dans le passé », « la possession en commun d’un riche legs de souvenirs » ; « dans le présent », « le désir de vivre ensemble ». La première dimension – « la possession d’un riche legs de souvenir » – ne manque pas de faire penser à la question, à laquelle le juge administratif s’est trouvé parfois confronté ces dernières années, de la réparation des préjudices subis durant certaines périodes sombres de l’histoire française. Elle fait également penser à la référence ponctuelle, par le législateur ou par le juge administratif lui-même, à l’idée de « tradition ». Quant à la seconde dimension – « le vivre ensemble » –, elle n’est pas sans lien avec, d’une part, les buts de la police, et, d’autre part, la théorie originale, inventée par le Conseil d’État, du collaborateur occasionnel au service public. Évidemment, tous ces rapprochements doivent être esquissés avec la plus grande prudence, tant l’office du juge administratif, de même que le vocabulaire qu’il utilise, semblent éloignés de ces considérations « nationales ». Ils témoignent néanmoins de ce que la réflexion sur la nation traverse les différentes spécialités du droit public et mérite d’intéresser, non seulement les constitutionnalistes et les internationalistes, mais également les administrativistes.
Le fédéralisme canadien : sources, pratiques et dysfonctionnements
Authors: Taillon Patrick , Binette Amélie
Published: July 2018

Pour des raisons historiques, le Canada est profondément marqué par l’influence du modèle impérial britannique. Cette forme de loyauté à l’endroit de la métropole a influencé le long processus d’acquisition de son indépendance qu’a connu le Canada et l’organisation de sa Constitution. Cette dernière, bien qu’occasionnellement modifiée, n’a jamais fait l’objet d’une véritable modernisation, notamment en raison du caractère très périlleux que représente l’exercice de pouvoir constituant au Canada. À terme, l’influence coloniale britannique, présente dans de larges pans des institutions canadiennes, comme l’unité juridictionnelle ou le mimétisme du Sénat envers la Chambre des Lords anglaise, génère toutefois des incidences des plus importantes sur la manière de concevoir les sources du droit qui organisent le fédéralisme canadien. Ce dernier se trouve tiraillé, depuis 1867, entre deux modèles : les préceptes du modèle fédéral et la tentation de reproduire, à l’échelle canadienne, le modèle impérial britannique d’un État unitaire, où le centre domine la périphérie. Cette tension s’observe à la fois dans les difficultés institutionnelles du fédéralisme canadien et dans des enjeux propres au partage des compétences législatives, lequel s’avère fragilisé par la capacité juridique des autorités fédérales à contourner les règles du partage par le recours à des pouvoirs pour le moins exorbitants.
Les monuments funéraires des Nerviens : épitaphes sur marbre noir et examen des supports de mémoire
Authors: Hoët-Van Cauwenberghe Christine , Louvion Christine
Published: July 2018

Les Nerviens ont adopté la pratique romaine d’élever des monuments de pierre pour leurs défunts. Réalisés en pierre bleue, un marbre gris-noir d’époque givétienne, ces blocs funéraires ont un aspect massif et parfois plusieurs épitaphes succinctes sont présentes sur un même bloc. En réalité, ces monuments ont été trouvés en remploi et ne sont guère complets. Pour essayer de les reconstituer, le rassemblement de la documentation est indispensable : les blocs d’une part et les ovoïdes qui les coiffaient d’autre part. La pierre bleue présente la contrainte d’être difficile à travailler. Les Nerviens ont donc dû s’adapter : le texte gravé est court, au lieu de sculpter ces blocs et leurs appendices, ils les ont enduits, ils les ont peints et ont représenté une pomme de pin ou une flamme en leur sommet. La présence d’ovoïdes multiples associés à des cartouches en même nombre est une particularité remarquable des Nerviens.
Les monuments funéraires sculptés de la rue Belin à Reims (Marne)
Authors: Bart Emmanuelle , Fronteau Gilles , Rollet Philippe
Published: July 2018

La fouille de deux puits situés rue Belin à Reims a permis de mettre au jour des blocs ayant appartenu entre autres à des monuments funéraires provenant des nécropoles situées à proximité. Ces blocs s’inscrivent pleinement dans la tradition architecturale et funéraire du Nord-Est de la Gaule au ii e s. Deux types de monuments prédominent : les stèles ou des piliers à plusieurs assises. Dans la majorité des cas, ce sont les représentations humaines, en groupe ou individuelles qui ornent les faces principales. Les faces latérales sont consacrées aux thématiques de la vie domestique ou professionnelle sans qu‘il soit toujours aisé d’identifier les objets ou la fonction représentée. On y retrouve des représentations de scènes de banquet, de transport, du travail des draps, ou plus rare une scène d’allaitement maternelle. Toutes ces scènes démontrent l’attachement des commanditaires à l’idée de réussite familiale et sociale.
Les deux sépultures augusto-tibériennes d’Ath/Ghislenghien (province de Hainaut ; Belgique) : deux ensembles d’exception au cœur du territoire nervien
Authors: Danese Véronique , Hanut Frédéric , Garnier Nicolas
Published: July 2018

En septembre 2014, une opération d’archéologie préventive (RPA/SPW, Patrimoine) liée à un projet d’extension de la zone d’activité économique de Ghislenghien a permis la découverte de deux sépultures privilégiées datées des débuts du Haut-Empire. Ces deux tombes, distantes de 9 m, comportaient une chambre funéraire en bois aménagée dans une fosse quadrangulaire. Elles ont livré un mobilier funéraire abondant et exceptionnel en raison de la présence de biens de prestige, rares voire uniques à l’échelle du nord de la Gaule. La tombe F673, datée de la fin du règne d’Auguste, a notamment livré un service de six vases en terre sigillée italique et une chaise curule en fer. La tombe F650 remonte au règne de Tibère. Elle se distingue par le dépôt d’un service de treize coupes et assiettes en terre sigillée, de plusieurs récipients en alliage de cuivre, de balsamaires en terre cuite et en verre et d’ustensiles métalliques liés au foyer et à l’organisation du banquet/festin. Ces deux sépultures sont celles de personnages en vue de la société nervienne au tournant des i er s. av. et ap. J.-C. Elles s’inscrivent dans un territoire densément occupé depuis le Second Âge du Fer. Les tombes sont implantées en hauteur, à 650 m de la grande villa de Meslin-l’Évêque dont la fondation remonte à la fin de la période augustéenne.
Deux ensembles funéraires du Haut-Empire en bordure du territoire ménapien : « Le Carnoy » Orchies (Nord)
Authors: Dananai Alice , Robelot Sylvain , Bustos Caroline , Vatteoni Sophie
Published: July 2018

Les fouilles menées en 2014 au « Carnoy » (Orchies, Nord) ont mis au jour deux espaces funéraires distincts, répartis de part et d’autre d’un fossé. Ils semblent se succéder dans le temps, entre la seconde moitié du i er s. et la première moitié du iii e s. ap. J.-C. L’ensemble le plus ancien, situé au sud du fossé, à l’ouest de l’emprise de fouille, est constitué de treize sépultures à crémation, dont deux ont été installées chacune dans une structure dont l’architecture monumentale en tuile témoigne du statut important des défunts. Le second ensemble funéraire, à l’est, au nord du fossé, est constitué de douze sépultures à crémation, qui se distinguent des précédentes par la présence systématique de résidus de crémation dans leur comblement. De plus, le traitement des défunts est nettement différent dans chacun des deux ensembles : dans le premier, les restes osseux brûlés sont placés dans un contenant périssable ou dans une sépulture à coffrage en tuile, dans le second, ils sont conservés dans un récipient en céramique ou dispersés dans le comblement de la tombe.
Un établissement agricole du Premier Âge du Fer à La Chapelle d’Armentières « Route nationale » (Nord) : un exemple d’habitat à enclos
Authors: Duvivier Hélène , Florent Guillaume , Collette Olivier , Save Sabrina , Vibet Marie-Anne
Published: July 2018

La partie méridionale d’une installation agricole de la fin du premier Âge du Fer a été mise au jour en 2009 sur le site de La Chapelle d’Armentières « Route Nationale - RD 933 » (59). Celle-ci est délimitée par un enclos fossoyé curviligne qui définit un vaste espace clos de plus de 4 500 m². Le fossé semble avoir été doté d’un talus interne. À l’intérieur, sur le pourtour, s’agence une dizaine de bâtiments construits sur poteaux. Les deux habitations principales à deux nefs sont positionnées à l’ouest, face à l’entrée, et autour gravitent de petits bâtiments destinés au stockage des récoltes et aux activités agricoles. Ce site est le premier exemple régional clairement identifié pour la période d’habitat enclos.
Gravelines (Nord) : les habitats médiévaux de l’îlot Carnot
Authors: Cercy Christine , Routier Jean-Claude
Published: July 2018

La fouille de l’îlot Carnot eut lieu en 2006 dans la partie nord-est de la ville. L’occupation couvre les xiii e - xix e s., mais cet article traite de l’occupation médiévale. Le terrain repose sur une assise de sable éolien dans laquelle s’ouvrent quelques structures, avant d’être probablement mise en culture. Ces niveaux de sables remaniés sont percés de fosses et de silos définitivement comblés lors de la seconde moitié du xiii e ou du début du xiv e s. Les premiers habitats s’alignent selon la rue de Dunkerque selon une trame régulière, puis gagnent le cœur d’îlot au cours du xiv e s. L’occupation du secteur semble atteindre son maximum aux xiv e et xv e s. ; au début de l’époque moderne, les bâtiments se resserrent le long de la rue. En arrière sont aménagés une série de jardins particuliers. La céramique médiévale de la parcelle fouillée rue Carnot est en relation avec le fonctionnement de plusieurs bâtiments. C’est une vaisselle culinaire et de préparation composée de pots, tèles, poêlons, bassins et cruches. La transition typologique du xiv e s. au xv e s. est perceptible en ce qui concerne notamment la gamme de tèles et de poêlons. L’utilisation de cruches nombreuses est remarquable du bas Moyen Âge jus qu’au xvi e s. (phase 4) et illustrée par deux ensembles distincts provenant de latrines. Plusieurs poteries complètes du xvi e s. restent utilisées au xvii e s., voisinant aux côtés de formes nouvelles.
Quantitative Comparison of Retinal Vascular Features in Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Images From Three Different Devices
Authors: Anegondi Neha , Kshirsagar Arpita , Mochi Thirumalesh B. , Sinha Roy Abhijit
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To compare optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images from three different devices.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

This was a prospective, observational, cross-sectional study. All eyes (n = 24) were imaged thrice each time with swept-source OCT (DRI OCT Triton Plus; Topcon, Tokyo, Japan), spectral-domain OCTA (AngioVue; Optovue, Fremont, CA), and SD-OCT Angioplex (Cirrus HD-OCT 5000; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany). Outcome measures were foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, vessel density, spacing between large vessels (SLV), and spacing between small vessels (SSV). They were calculated using local fractal analyses and Frangi filter.

RESULTS:

The vascular parameters showed good to excellent repeatability (intraclass coefficient > 0.8) in the three devices. The FAZ area (
P
= .3) and vessel density of the superficial layer (
P
= .8) were similar between the devices. In the deep layer, vessel density was significantly higher (
P
= .02) with Angio-Vue images compared to those acquired using the other devices. However, SLV was significantly higher (
P
< .05) and SSV was significantly lower (
P
< .05) on Angioplex scans compared to other devices. Vessel parameters were significantly altered in Frangi-filtered images as compared to nonfiltered images.

CONCLUSIONS:

Vessel density showed good repeatability among the three devices, although there were differences in vessel parameters between the devices. Also, vessel parameters changed significantly after Frangi filtering.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:488–496.]
Characterization of Idiopathic Choroidal Neovascularization Using Fluorescein Angiography, Indocyanine Green Angiography, and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: Kumar Atul , Vohra Rajpal , Agrawal Surbhi , Chawla Rohan , Azad Shorya Vardhan , Venkatesh Pradeep , Sharma Anu
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To assess the usefulness of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in cases of idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (iCNV).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Seven eyes with suspected iCNV were evaluated using OCT, OCTA, fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and were followed up between 3 weeks and 4 weeks following an intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection. The utility of OCTA in the diagnosis and characterization of morphology of iCNV at baseline and follow-up was assessed.

RESULTS:

Morphology of vasculature comprising iCNV could be detected in all cases (100%) on OCTA and in 57% cases on ICGA. FA only detected hyperfluorescence and not individual vessel morphology. After anti-VEGF injection, the mean logMAR visual acuity improved from 0.55 to 0.27. A qualitative scale to assess response of therapy is suggested.

CONCLUSIONS:

OCTA is a useful, noninvasive tool to detect, characterize, and follow-up on cases of suspected iCNV with utility comparable to or even better than traditional angiography techniques.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:516–522.]
New Vital Dye Injection Technique With Vitrectomy Probe
Authors: Caporossi Tomaso , Finocchio Lucia , Tartaro Ruggero , Franco Fabrizio , Barca Francesco , Rizzo Stanislao
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate a new, safer way to inject vital dye during chromovitrectomy for dye-assisted macular peeling.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Prospective consecutive case series. Enrolled patients underwent macular surgery with a new technique of staining the epiretinal membrane and the internal limiting membrane with vital dyes. Twenty eyes of 20 patients (eight men, 12 women) were affected by idiopathic epiretinal membrane and underwent 25-gauge via pars plana vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane removal. Ten eyes were stained with Membrane Blue-Dual (Brilliant Blue G + trypan blue; DORC, Zuidland, The Netherlands) and 10 eyes were stained with Brilliant Peel (Brillant Blue G; Fluoron GmbH, Ulm, Germany).

Preoperatively and postoperatively (1, 3, and 6 months) all patients received a complete ophthalmologic examination with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) assessment, swept-source optical coherence tomography, and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG).

RESULTS:

The mean age of the patients was 67.0 years ± 8.6 years (range: 55 years to 78 years). No statistically significant difference in BCVA improvement or central foveal thickness decrease was observed in either group (
P
> .05). The mfERG showed an increase in electrical response densities 3 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION:

The authors describe a new technique to inject vital dye during chromovitrectomy for dye-assisted macular peeling that may help to improve the overall safety of macular surgery.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:528–533.]
Novel Mutation in Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator Gene Causes Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia and Retinitis Pigmentosa
Authors: Sengillo Jesse D. , Fridman Gabrielle , Cho Galaxy Y. , Buchovecky Christie , Tsang Stephen H.
Published: July 2018

The majority of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is due to mutations in the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (
RPGR
) gene. Determining the pathogenicity of novel variants is important for enrollment of patients into gene therapy trials. Sequencing and analysis of
RPGR
variants in ORF15 is challenging, as it is highly repetitive and rich in purines. Overlapping reading frames and polymorphic insertions / deletions add further complexity to the detection of mutations. Identifying systemic manifestations in affected males and carrier phenotype in related females expedites confirmation of pathogenic variants. The authors present a 16-year-old boy with a history of primary ciliary dyskinesia presenting with complaints of nyctalopia and visual field constriction. Multimodal imaging found peripheral thinning of the retina and a characteristic foveal hyperautofluorescent ring in the proband, and a carrier phenotype in the asymptomatic mother. A novel c.1059_1059+2delGGT, p.(?) variant in
RPGR
was identified as hemizygous in the affected boy and heterozygous in his mother. This case study expands the genotypic spectrum of
RPGR
variants associated with systemic manifestations.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:548–552.]
On the influence of low-energy ionizing radiation on the amino acid molecule: Valine case
Authors: Tamulienė Jelena , Romanova Liudmila , Vukstich Vasyl , Papp Alexander , Baliulytė Laura , Snegursky Alexander
Published: July 2018

New data on the valine molecule (C5H11NO2) fragmentation under the low-energy electron-impact are presented. These data are related to the formation of ionized products due to the ionizing radiation influence on the above amino acid molecule. A series of the fragments produced are identified by applying an extensive DFT-theory approach. The results obtained allowed the principal pathways of the valine molecule fragmentation to be found. The absolute appearance energies of some fragments are both measured experimentally and calculated theoretically. The experimental and theoretical data are compared and analysed.
An accurate analytical model for nonequilibrium drift-velocity and chord-mobility of In0.53Ga0.47As
Authors: Moreno Enrique , Varani Luca
Published: July 2018

Mobility models are an essential tool for an accurate description of the charge carrier dynamics in semiconductor materials and devices. By means of a simulator based on the Monte Carlo method which has been properly validated, a set of velocity and chord-mobility data was generated for electrons and holes in In0.53Ga0.47As bulk material as a function of electric field and for different concentrations of donors and acceptors. This set has been used to build an accurate velocity and chord-mobility analytical model, the mathematical simplicity of which represents a significant advantage because it provides necessary values by a rapid calculation process without forgoing accuracy. The model can be easily implemented in compact numerical simulations of electronic devices and associated circuits where a fast recovery of the velocity and mobility values corresponding to the local electric field and doping concentration is needed.
Reconstrucción virtual del exterior del complejo funerario de Sarenput I (QH36)
Authors: Martínez Hermoso Juan Antonio
Published: July 2018

El complejo funerario de Sarenput I (QH36) destaca por ser el único de los construidos en la necrópolis de Qubbet el-Hawa, que fue completamente terminado. Además, destaca por ser uno de los escasos ejemplos de la arquitectura funeraria privada del Reino Medio, junto con las monumentales tumbas de Qaw el-Kebir y de Assiut que, de manera simplificada, sigue la estructura de los complejos funerarios reales con escalera ascendente, patio exterior, capilla funeraria y cámaras de enterramiento. En este artículo se aporta la reconstrucción gráfica “ideal” de los espacios exteriores de QH36, conservados parcialmente, basándonos en dos niveles de conocimiento: los elementos arquitectónicos y otras evidencias arqueológicas existentes en el recinto exterior que nos permiten su reconstrucción garantizando su autenticidad y la falta de algunos de éstos que nos obliga a tomar decisiones interpretativas que, basadas en el estudio de ejemplos de la arquitectura egipcia contemporánea, garanticen un modelo con rigurosidad y veracidad histórica.
Maturity Profiles of Organizations for Social Media
Authors: Abramek Edyta
Published: July 2018

The aim of the study is to analyze case studies of selected organizations in terms of their achievements in the use of social media. The profiling method applied in the study facilitated evaluating the model of the selected organization. It is an efficient technique for exploring data. Graphic objects show the individual characteristics of selected organizations. Graphical visualization makes it easy to gauge the trajectory, the direction of your company's social media strategy, and helps to make a decision to change it. Further analysis of the structure of these models may facilitate the discovery of relevant relationships between the analyzed variables.
Microfinance and Women Empowerment: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Sinha Madhabendra , Mahapatra Sudhansu Sekhar , Dutta Abhijit , Sengupta Partha Pratim
Published: July 2018

The present chapter empirically examines the role of microfinance access on women empowerment by using primary data on women borrowers from different microfinance institutions in Nadia and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal in India. Microfinance institutions play an important role in strategies related to gender and development due to their active relationships with women empowerment and poverty alleviation. The various programmes under microfinance like self-help groups (SHGs) are promoted and inspired for their significant economic impacts on empowerment of women. We investigate the impact of microfinance access on three dimensions of women empowerment, which make influence upon decision making on the issues of credit, expenditure and children. We conduct a primary survey on about eight hundred respondents of women borrowers from different microfinance institutions and apply multivariate probit estimation. Our findings imply that the greater access to microfinance credit negatively impacts on economic empowerment i.e. decisions on credit and expenditure related issues.
Microfinance as a Weapon to Gain Empowerment
Authors: Basu Indrani
Published: July 2018

The aim of development policies of any country around the world is to include the marginalised people into development process. Women generally belong to this marginalised group who are struggling over the period of time for their basic sustenance. Microfinance is among one such development strategies to alleviate poverty. However, success of such initiatives depends on the interaction among the several social processes within multi-dimensional society. Aim of this chapter is to evaluate the contribution of microfinance as a weapon to gain empowerment of women on a case study in Nabagram Block of West Bengal, India. It is observed from the study that 73% of respondents have reported that they have utilised their loan on such income generating activities which are different from the prime occupation of the family. Also, the study reveals that members of SHGs seek for greater assistance from facilitators as well as funding authority regarding information, skill development training, raw material supply and process of marketization of their products.
Examining the Viability of Social Responsibility of Microfinance by the Bank Compartamos, Mexico
Authors: Vargas-Hernández José G. , Huerta María Alejandra Santos , Bhattacharjee Kinkini
Published: July 2018

Microfinance achieves financial inclusion to the poor population stimulating the creation of sources of income and employment. Banco Compartamos is an institution that has more market share and has more than 20 years providing financial services to their specific sector of the population. The chapter analyzes the viability of social responsibility of microfinancing by the Compartamos banco of Mexico for the period 2002-2015. The results show that microfinance working on social responsibility by the Compartamos Banco is not viable as there are the results of inverse correlation results. However, the banco served some social responsibility by means of pulling people out of poverty. It further concludes that these organizations fulfill their main objective, which is to benefit the people of the base of the pyramid in Mexico.
Reducing Inequality in Developing Countries Through Microfinance
Authors: Edeme Richardson Kojo , Nkalu Chigozie Nelson
Published: July 2018

Even though microfinance is expected to significantly affect macro variables such as inequality, poverty, and human development, there has not been enough empirical study on the impact analysis at the macro level, such as the effect of microfinance on inequality, especially in developing countries of Africa. This chapter, therefore, provides a detailed empirical analysis of the correlation between microfinance and inequality in West Africa sub-region. The correlation coefficient shows that although there is a positive linear connection between the possibilities of microfinance to reduce inequality; it has not contributed significantly to poverty reduction with the independent variables. The findings further suggest that the most robust explanatory variables for inequality reduction are GDP per capita and democracy which are invariably significant with positive sign. Taken together, these findings reinforce the intuition that greater democracy and provision and expansion of financial infrastructures especially in backward countries of the region are necessary for microfinance to thrive and contribute abundantly to inequality reduction.
Poverty and Inequality of SHG-Member Households
Authors: Bagli Supravat , Dey Ratan
Published: July 2018

This chapter explores the penetration of SHGs and assesses socio-economic status and its inequality for the SHG-member households in North Andaman Island in the union territory Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. The authors have used the Gini coefficients for computing inequalities and log-linear model for estimating the impact of borrowing on food and non-food expenditure. It is revealed that the incidence and intensity of poverty of the sample households is not so serious. Majority of the sample women under SHG schemes actively participate in group activities and have obtained micro credit. Inequality in household income is lower than the inequality in per capita income. Moreover, inequality for health expenditure is higher compared to the inequality in food expenditure. Borrowing through SHGs accelerates non-food expenditures not investment in income generating activities. However, SHGs inculcates empowerment of the participations.
Poverty and Microfinance in Char Areas of Dhubri District in Assam
Authors: Sheikh Shahjahan Ali , Datta Kanchan
Published: July 2018

In India, 70% of population lives in rural area and 60% of population earn their livelihood from agriculture which implies a high rate of underemployment and poverty. The root cause of poverty is the low access to credit facilities. Micro finance in this respect can play a vital role in providing financial services to the poor. In India Micro finance is dominated by self-help groups (SHGs), bank linkage programs aimed at providing a cost effective mechanism for providing financial services to unreached poor to fight against poverty. The chapter, thus, aims at identifying the current status, role, and performance of microfinance in Char areas of Assam in India. The chapter is concluded with the stress that more and more number of SHGs should be encouraged to form among the poor household in the study area to avail the benefit and cross poverty line.
Benchmarking as an Instrument for Continuous Improvement in a Regulated Higher Education Quality Assurance Environment
Authors: Padró Fernando F. , Sankey Michael
Published: July 2018

Benchmarking by higher education institutions (HEIs) has been evolving for some time in Australia and New Zealand. Earlier efforts were focused on improving reputation, but now benchmarking has become a required component of higher education quality assurance, or regulatory compliance schemes. ACODE's benchmarking framework and the ACODE Benchmarks provide Australasian HEIs with the ability to review their technology enhanced learning (TEL) practices and decision-making against what is considered “good” practice. The ACODE benchmarking framework and its benchmarks also allow HEIs to inform quality audit, or regulatory compliance reporting by HEIs to maintain institutional recognition and demonstrate performance against threshold or other specific performance standards. ACODE's benchmarking framework and benchmarks are recognized as influencers in benchmarking practice. However, there is a need to generate empirical data to demonstrate its leadership role and review the benchmarks for present purposes and to determine how they are used by HEIs. Thus, in effect, this case study represents a view of the increasing importance of benchmarking in higher education quality assurance schemes—at least in some national sectors—through the lens of benchmarking the benchmarks. The case presents the ongoing efforts, providing available data from one completed round and a still to be completed second round of what has become a biennial exercise. Findings so far suggest increasing interest in using the ACODE benchmarks to assist in determining performance within HEI TEL-related issues and in HEI participation in the benchmarking the benchmarks exercise as a means of learning from each other's practice.
Quality Award and Certifications
Authors: Lasrado Flevy , Husain Zoya , Hasan Reem
Published: July 2018

Quality awards have been widely used by organizations to improve the internal quality as well as to gain recognition and reputation for their products and services. This case illustrates a case of Dubai quality award. Through the 22 years of history of excellence, the Dubai quality award has inspired organizations towards a journey of excellence. The case illustrates the Dubai quality award structure and illustrates the good practices of winners.
The Financial Implications of Funding Quality Practices
Authors: Bhatia Meena
Published: July 2018

The case deals with an educational institution that is two decades old and is going for an accreditation process for the first time. To meet the challenge of accreditation, there are multiple quality criteria that the institution is not currently meeting. A decision needs to be made as to whether an enhancement of quality is required with respect to the criteria. The factors that would determine the decision to improve the quality practices are the estimation of the additional cost involved, the stakeholder benefits, the mode of the return on investment, the option to pass on the cost to the students, and finally the incremental benefits that the students will experience with or without the incremental fees.
Knowledge Management
Authors: Chopra Neeti , Singh Anjana , Pathak Vibhawendra , Arora Vikas
Published: July 2018

The evolution of knowledge and knowledge-based issues are significant for effective management of knowledge. The effective management of knowledge has been characterized as a prerequisite for organizations looking for sustenance in this competitive era. This case focuses on the sphere of knowledge management to throw the light on the importance of knowledge management in an IT company. The case will manifest the fact that knowledge management is indispensable for organizational performance. The case also focuses on giving attention to three key components—people, processes, and technology—that will help to manage knowledge in an effective way. The main objective is to prioritize the processes of acquisition, integration, and usage of knowledge, which is what knowledge management (KM) is all about. KM is a process that through creating, accumulating, organizing, and utilizing knowledge helps attain the objectives and improve the organizational performance. The major benefit of introducing KM practices in organizations is its undeniable impact on organizational performance.
Blow to the Head
Authors: Sossi Dino
Published: July 2018

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative disease that has begun to be discovered in various deceased professional athletes across sports. The pathology of CTE involves repeated traumatic blows to the head. Due to the longitudinal and cumulative aspects of this disease as well as the high financial stakes involved in professional sports, its discovery has led to many important issues that need to be investigated. This chapter explores some of the legal and ethical implications of CTE in professional sports.
The Emergence of Sports Law in Kenya
Authors: Mikinyango Asha
Published: July 2018

Sports law is a relatively new topic in Kenya. Once played for recreational purposes and entertainment, sports have become professionalized and commercialized. This evolution led to government intervention to prevent a conflict of interest. The government in Kenya created and regulated the infrastructure supporting these sports, as well as provided dispute resolution mechanisms for arising issues. This infrastructure included both the legal and structural frameworks of the industry. The government intervention ran through the legislature and the judiciary. Through the legislature, the government created laws to regulate the sports industry. The judiciary adjudicated issues demanding judicial treatment. Sports have grown into a highly competitive industry with global pervasiveness. This chapter will discuss regulative and structural frameworks within the sports industry by highlighting the legislation primarily providing sports law. The chapter then highlights contemporary issues as well as make recommendations on the same.
The Problem of Locating and Routing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Yakıcı Ertan , Karatas Mumtaz , Yılmaz Oktay
Published: July 2018

In this chapter, locating and routing of a UAV fleet is discussed. Since the research in the location and routing of UAVs is very limited, the related problems are reviewed. A basic problem and its extended version found in the literature are redefined along with their MILP formulation. Both of the problems are characterized by a prize collecting objective function and a homogeneous fleet of fixed number of UAVs based on naval platforms. The aim is described as maximization of the collected importance value associated to interest points. A solution method that is based on ACO is discussed. The usage of this robust method for both the basic and the extended versions of the problem is explained. The improvement room in the present solution method and future research directions are also discussed.
Multi-Criteria Decision Making
Authors: Temucin Tolga
Published: July 2018

Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) is a discipline that explicitly considers assessing alternatives in a decision problem with respect to multiple criteria. Those methods are frequently used to solve real-life decision problems that incorporate multiple, conflicting, and incommensurate criteria. Considering the chaotic, complex, and ambiguous nature and the dynamics of the military operations, most decision problems observed in military organizations also follow a similar structure involving multiple criteria. This chapter gives an overview of the basic decision-making problem types and decision processes observed in military organizations and provides information on the MCDM methodologies adopted to solve those problems.
Similarity Measure Optimization for Target Detection
Authors: Gundogdu Batuhan , Saraclar Murat
Published: July 2018

Today, in the era of data and computing, fast and reliable retrieval of information has become of great importance for security and military applications, and continues to be such, as the amount available digital data increases every second. While the search and retrieval of text data has produced mature products and are today being used in search engines everyday by everyone, the retrieval of spoken content still remains a young research, especially for low resource languages where the available data is scarce to train reliable speech recognition systems. This chapter provides a thorough introduction of a speech retrieval task called “keyword search” and presents a novel similarity measure optimization-based approach. The case study was experimented on telephone conversations in three different languages and thousands of keywords randomly selected from each language were searched in the document. The experiments show that the technique introduced in this chapter offers a new methodology to handle the terms that does not even exist in the vocabulary of the speech recognition systems.
Sustainable Development From a “Nature vs. Nurture” Perspective
Authors: Vreja Lucia Ovidia , Bălan Sergiu
Published: July 2018

This chapter presents the role of nature and nurture in shaping the behavior of human beings toward sustainability identifying instances of both dramatic extinctions of species and collapse of entire societies, as well as successful, peaceful, and healthy adaptation of human communities to their environment, in an attempt to presents the imperative conditions necessary for attaining sustainable development. A very long and intriguing history reveals that from the nature's point of view humans are rather destructive, interested in their own short-term survival. Nevertheless, the same long history of human species bears valuable lessons and examples of adaptive behaviors grounded by nurture, and based on these examples, the chapter aims at advancing a new perspective of thinking sustainable development that could lay the foundation of a new education curriculum.
Prerequisites for Relaunching Economic Growth in Romanian Agriculture by Promoting Associativity
Authors: Popescu Gabriel
Published: July 2018

The level of socio-economic development, the types of relations, and the existing legislation at some point in society represent basic elements in the operation of public-private partnership. In the post-revolution period, a series of difficulties and discontinuities in agricultural policies are manifested in the Romanian society, even after 27 years. It has affected the configuration and development of associative structures, including public-private partnerships from rural areas. Currently, the evolution of the representative associative structures in public-private partnership and the diversification of operation record more than the progressive process, a correlation with the local development plans. Also, concerns on behalf of the central public administration are recorded regarding the update of the legislative and institutional set-up of associative type, because it is one of the main tools for operating the common agricultural policy in accordance with the rules of the European Union.
Organic Agriculture
Authors: Stoian Mirela , Caprita Diana
Published: July 2018

Promoting sustainability, including the production and consumption of food, is badly needed nowadays, given the fact that consumers are increasingly concerned about protecting their health, through a thorough verification of food quality. From this perspective, organic food may represent a viable solution for a healthier future. Currently, we are witnessing a substantial increase in the number of countries, organizations, and companies encouraging organic farming, an economic activity that involves environmentally friendly agricultural practices. The main objective of this chapter is to reveal the growing importance of organic farming to the food markets. This research will also focus on presenting a very detailed analysis of the defining elements of organic agriculture, such as the evolution of certified organic surfaces, both contributory and disfavoring factors of the developing organic agriculture, and last but not least, overall outlook for global consumption of certified organic products.
The Role of Higher Education in Supporting Sustainable Rural Entrepreneurship
Authors: Diaconeasa Maria Claudia , Constantin Florentina
Published: July 2018

This chapter refers to an empirical research that aims to analyze how the knowledge and skills acquired during undergraduate studies have been perceived by the graduate students and also how the higher education contributes to the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas. The research method identified as being more appropriate was a quantitative research based on an online survey established in accordance with the objectives set up. The participants in the research were the graduate students of the Faculty of Agri-food and Environmental Economy within The Bucharest University of Economic Studies. The findings are based on participants' open statements that could be important arguments to be taken into consideration for improving the decision making in higher education which would lead to the professional development of the graduates.