Book Review: IDENTITY ECONOMICS: HOW OUR IDENTITIES SHAPE OUR WORK, WAGES, AND WELL-BEING George A. Akerlof & Rachel E. Kranton, Princeton, 2010, 185 pages, ISBN 978-0-691-14648-5

Akerlof & Kranton propose a way to capture the power of identity with traditional economic analysis. The writing is lucid and clear and opens the way to wide readership by avoiding the use of economic jargon. The book’s stated aim is to introduce a way of making sense of the effect social contexts have on beliefs (or non-economic motives). Identity economics, they say, gives a vocabulary and analytical framework to discover and describe norms that drives these motives – a social context putting ‘humanity’ into understanding individual decision making.

Balancing fisheries and coastal management across the triple bottom line: objectives and outcomes co-designed with stakeholders

Fisheries and coastal assets are both common pool resources. The management of natural resources has a special focus in sustainability science because of the need to avoid the ‘tragedy of the commons’. Not only do common resources need special attention to ensure future sustainability, there is also a need to ensure management decisions are not made on short timelines, so as to prevent the ‘tragedy of the horizon’. This tragedy occurs when the time to replenish those resources is much longer than the timeframe over which impacts of resource decisions are managed, and often imposes costs on future generations. This thesis focuses on how the management of fisheries and coastal resources can be implemented through a triple bottom line lens to avoid both tragedies. Foremost, the thesis examines how appropriate social objectives can be developed, particularly through stakeholder engagement, and how management options can be assessed to identify options that maximise triple bottom line outcomes. These aspects are demonstrated through a series of case studies. The purpose of the research presented in this thesis is to explore stakeholder participation in fisheries and coastal management decision-making with the triple bottom line approach. The triple bottom line as defined John Elkington (1997) encompasses seven paradigm shifts for sustainability: (i) using markets to improve environmental management and create triple-win situations; (ii) incorporating lifecycle technologies and approaches; (iii) engaging and co-designing with stakeholders so that they become process partners; (iv) transparency throughout assessment and management processes; (v) adopting long time horizons; (vi) uncovering and appreciating social ‘soft’ values and other externalities which will see the need for evolving ways and means to quantify qualitative outcomes; and (vii) establishing governance embedded with corporate social responsibility (CSR)

Fast tuneable InGaAsP DBR laser using quantum-confined stark-effect-induced refractive index change

We report a monolithically integrated InGaAsP DBR ridge waveguide laser that uses the quantum-confined Stark effect (QCSE) to achieve fast tuning response. The laser incorporates three sections: a forward-biased gain section, a reverse-biased phase section, and a reverse-biased DBR tuning section. The laser behavior is modeled using transmission matrix equations and tuning over similar to 8 nm is predicted. Devices were fabricated using post-growth shallow ion implantation to reduce the loss in the phase and DBR sections by quantum well intermixing. The lasing wavelength was measured while varying the reverse bias of the phase and DBR sections in the range 0 V to < - 2.5 V. Timing was noncontinuous over a similar to 7-nm-wavelength range, with a side-mode suppression ratio of similar to 20 dB. Coupled cavity effects due to the fabrication method used introduced discontinuities in tuning. The frequency modulation (FM) response was measured to be uniform within 2 dB over the frequency range 10 MHz to 10 GHz, indicating that tuning times of 100 ps are possible

100 GHz Spaced 10 Gbit/s WDM over 10 degrees C to 70 degrees C using an uncooled DBR laser

100 GHz spaced 10 Gbit/s (NRZ, PRBS 2(31)-1) WDM transmission is demonstrated with an uncooled DBR laser. The wavelength of the laser was stabilised within 2 GHz from 10 degrees C to 70 degrees C using a predicting algorithm. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America

A monolithic MQW InP/InGaAsP-based comb generator

We report a monolithic optical frequency comb generator using quaternary/quaternary multiple quantum well InV/InGaAsP material as phase modulator and gain medium in a Frequency Modulated (FM) laser design. The modulation was generated by quantum confined Stark effect to achieve a comb-line spacing of 24.4 GHz. The laser was fabricated using a single epitaxial growth step and quantum well intermixing to realize low loss phase and modulation sections. The resulting comb generator produces lines with a spacing exactly given by the modulation frequency, differential phase noise between adjacent lines of -82 dBc/Hz at 1 kHz offset and a comb spectrum width of up to 2 THz

A monolithic MQW InP-InGaAsP-Based optical comb generator

We report the first demonstration of a monolithic optical-frequency comb generator. The device is based on multi-section quaternary/quaternary eight-quantum-well InP-InGaAsP material in a frequency-modulated (FM) laser design. The modulation is generated using quantum-confined Stark-effect phase-induced refractive index modulation to achieve fast modulation up to 24.4 GHz. The laser was fabricated using a single epitaxial growth step and quantum-well intermixing to realize low-loss phase adjustment and modulation sections. The output was quasicontinuous wave with intensity modulation at less than 20% for a total output power of 2 mW. The linewidth of each line was limited by the linewidth of the free running laser at an optimum of 25 MHz full-width at half-maximum. The comb generator produces a number of lines with a spacing exactly equal to the modulation frequency (or a multiple of it), differential phase noise between adjacent lines of -82 dBc/Hz at 1-kHz offset (modulation source-limited), and a potential comb spectrum width of up to 2 THz (15 nm), though the comb spectrum was not continuous across the full span

Multi-modal framework for subject-specific finite element model generation aimed at pressure ulcer prevention.

International audienceThis study outlines a methodology aiming at the definition of an individual and personalised pressure ulcer risk assessment scale based on patient-specific biomechanical modellin

Efficacité d'une intervention tutorale sur la progression en anglais des étudiants en première année de sciences humaines et sociales

De nature exploratoire, la présente étude tente de mesurer et de comprendre la nature de l'impact du tutorat d'anglais, en présentiel, de groupe et d'approche proactive, sur la progression en anglais des étudiants de L1 en sciences sociales qui le fréquentent. Dix séances de tutorat étaient proposées entre un pré-test et un post-test portant sur un des textes d’un corpus étudié en cours magistraux. Malgré la prudence à tenir quant à l'interprétation des résultats, l’étude montre que les étudiants qui fréquentent le tutorat ont de meilleurs résultats à l'examen et une meilleure progression entre pré-test et post-test au cours du semestre que ceux qui ne le fréquentent pas, d’autant plus si cette assiduité s’associe à l’assiduité aux cours, et ce, que les étudiants soient volontaires ou non à la participation tutorale. L'analyse qualitative du discours des étudiants montre combien ils ont été sensibles tout autant aux marques amicales et bienveillantes du tuteur envers eux (congruence sociale) qu'envers la confrontation socio-cognitive, l'adaptation du tuteur à leur connaissance du moment, ou encore la vulgarisation des concepts (congruence cognitive).This exploratory study aims to measure and understand the nature of the impact of proactive in-class tutoring group sessions on the development of first-year Social Sciences students' English skills. Ten tutorials based on a corpus of texts studied in lectures were offered to them between a pretest and a posttest. Even though the results should be interpreted with great care, this paper shows that the students who attended these tutoring sessions obtain better grades and progress significantly over the course of the term in comparison to those who did not participate in the mentorship program. These findings are even more preeminent if attendance to this program is associated with lecture attendance, be the students volunteers or required to attend these tutoring sessions. Qualitative analysis of students' responses showed that they were as sensitive to their tutor's friendliness and benevolence (social congruence) as to his ability to respond to their social cognitive needs and his capacity to adapt and bring specific knowledge into general use (cognitive congruence)

Multi-Modal Framework for Subject-Specific Finite Element Modeling of the Buttocks

International audienceIn order to produce high quality personalized FE models, it is necessary to resort to medical imaging and acquire the most relevant possible description of the modeled morphology. Yet building a FE model from a medical data set can be a challenging and time consuming task. To overcome the commonly encountered problems, this paper introduces a "mesh warping" approach chosen for its versatility. A biomechanical finite element model of the buttocks soft tissues is generated for an efficient prevention of pressure ulcers