Les psychotropes criminogènes

Les psychotropes altèrent le psychisme d’un individu et peuvent affecter les perceptions, l’humeur, la conscience, le comportement et diverses fonctions psychologiques et physiques. Ils se divisent en cinq catégories : les dépresseurs du système nerveux central (SNC), les stimulants du SNC, les perturbateurs du SNC, les médicaments psychothérapeutiques et les androgènes et stéroïdes anabolisants.L’abus de certains psychotropes peut conduire à la tolérance, la dépendance psychologique, la dépendance physique et la toxicomanie. Un des phénomènes liés à la toxicomanie est la criminalité. Les psychotropes criminogènes directs par excellence sont l’alcool, les amphétamines, la cocaïne et la phencyclidine (PCP). Leurs propriétés pharmacologiques et toxicologiques sont variées. La relation intoxication-criminalité est complexe et dépend de divers facteurs biopsychosociaux.Psychotropics alter the psychism of an individual and can affect perceptions, mood, thinking, behaviour and various psychological and physical functions. They are divided in five categories: central nervous system (CNS) depressants, CNS stimulants, CNS disturbers, psychotherapeutic medications and androgens and anabolic steroids.Abuse of some psychotropic substances can induce tolerance, psychological dependence, physical dependence and toxicomania. One of the phenomenons related to toxicomania is criminality. Direct criminogenic psychotropics are typically alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine and phencyclidine (PCP). Their pharmacological and toxicological properties are diverse. The intoxication-criminality relationship is complex and depends on several bio-psychosocial factors

Estimation of Mechanical Properties of Soft Tissue Subjected to Dynamic Impact

This study attempted to estimate the damping properties of human tissue by using spring and damper system as a model. Data of impacting human tissue at the deltoid area was used to obtain a continuous, second order system to represent the mass-spring-damper system. A discrete ARMA(2,1) model was fitted using the data obtained from experiments in which the deceleration of a pendulum impacting human shoulders in the area of the deltoid muscle was measured. The data of the deceleration was integrated twice to obtain estimates of displacement. The integration was done until the maximum displacement occurred at zero velocity. An ARMA (2, 1) model was then fitted on the displacement data using the Data-Dependent-System (DDS) technique. The results were then converted to a continuous second order autoregressive model A(2) using the concept of Green’s Function and the auto covariance. Utilizing the principles of a mass-spring-damper system enabled the estimation of the spring constant (K) and damper constant (C) for each trail of the experiment. Estimates for both constants were found to be highly correlated with the mass of the impacting pendulum. Explanations for this string relationship were investigated

Biostratigraphy and Ostracod Faunas of the Miocene Marada Formation of the Eastern Sirt Basin, Libya

An attempt is made to define the biostratigraphy of the Marada Formation using the ostracod faunas for age determination and palaeoenvironmental analysis. The material studied is ditch cutting samples from the Miocene Marada formation of three wells drilled in the eastern Sirt Basin by the Wintershall company in concession 97, zone 2. The Marada Formation has previously been studied by several authors such as Desio, (1935) who dated as Early-Middle Miocene, with fewer studies on the ostracods, e. g. Innocenti and Pertusati (1984) and Szchechura (1989). 28 genera and 55 species of ostracods have been recorded; six species are new: Actinocythereis sirtensis sp. nov, Bythocypris tripoliensis sp. nov, Cyprideis maradaensis sp. nov, Cytheridea joshensis sp. nov, Hermanites zaltanensis sp. nov, Paijenborchellina keeni sp. nov; 22 species have previously been described; 9 can be closely compared with described species; and 18 left under open nomenclature. Many of the species previously described have a wide ranging distribution in the Miocene to Pliocene of the Mediterranean region and North Africa; some of these are restricted to the Lower Miocene, others to the Upper Miocene while no species diagnostic of the Middle Miocene have been found. Four ostracods biozones have been recognised in the Marada Formation: Biozone A is defined by the total range of Pokornyella deformis minor and indicates Lower Miocene (Aquitanian); Biozone B is defined as the interval between the last appearance stratigraphically of Pokornyella deformis minor and last appearance of Aurila soummamensis and is Lower Miocene (Burdigalian); Biozone C is an interval zone probably of Middle Miocene age, Biozone D is an assemblage zone indicating the base of the Upper Miocene. The Biozones were present in all three Wells. The Burdigalian biozone can be correlated with biozones of the Miocene in Turkey. The palaeoenvironments indicated by the ostracods are shallow marine (Infralittoral zone) with significant brackish levels (probably lagoonal) in the Burdigalian

Vision Based Calibration and Localization Technique for Video Sensor Networks

The recent evolutions in embedded systems have now made the video sensor networks a reality. A video sensor network consists of a large number of low cost camera-sensors that are deployed in random manner. It pervades both the civilian and military fields with huge number of applications in various areas like health-care, environmental monitoring, surveillance and tracking. As most of the applications demand the knowledge of the sensor-locations and the network topology before proceeding with their tasks, especially those based on detecting events and reporting, the problem of localization and calibration assumes a significance far greater than most others in video sensor network. The literature is replete with many localization and calibration algorithms that basically rely on some a-priori chosen nodes, called seeds, with known coordinates to help determine the network topology. Some of these algorithms require additional hardware, like arrays of antenna, while others require having to regularly reacquire synchronization among the seeds so as to calculate the time difference of the received signals. Very few of these localization algorithms use vision based technique. In this work, a vision based technique is proposed for localizing and configuring the camera nodes in video wireless sensor networks. The camera network is assumed randomly deployed. One a-priori selected node chooses to act as the core of the network and starts to locate some other two reference nodes. These three nodes, in turn, participate in locating the entire network using tri-lateration method with some appropriate vision characteristics. In this work, the vision characteristics that are used the relationship between the height of the image in the image plane and the real distance between the sensor node and the camera. Many experiments have been simulated to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technique. Apart from this work, experiments are also carried out to locate any other new object in the video sensor network. The experimental results showcase the accuracy of building up one-plane network topology in relative coordinate system and also the robustness of the technique against the accumulated error in configuring the whole network

Vision Based Calibration and Localization Technique for Video Sensor Networks

The recent evolutions in embedded systems have now made the video sensor networks a reality. A video sensor network consists of a large number of low cost camera-sensors that are deployed in random manner. It pervades both the civilian and military fields with huge number of applications in various areas like health-care, environmental monitoring, surveillance and tracking. As most of the applications demand the knowledge of the sensor-locations and the network topology before proceeding with their tasks, especially those based on detecting events and reporting, the problem of localization and calibration assumes a significance far greater than most others in video sensor network. The literature is replete with many localization and calibration algorithms that basically rely on some a-priori chosen nodes, called seeds, with known coordinates to help determine the network topology. Some of these algorithms require additional hardware, like arrays of antenna, while others require having to regularly reacquire synchronization among the seedy so as to calculate the time difference of the received signals. Very few of these localization algorithms use vision based technique. In this work, a vision based technique is proposed for localizing and configuring the camera nodes in video wireless sensor networks. The camera network is assumed randomly deployed. One a-priori selected node chooses to act as the core of the network and starts to locate some other two reference nodes. These three nodes, in turn, participate in locating the entire network using tri-lateration method with some appropriate vision characteristics. In this work, the vision characteristics that are used the relationship between the height of the image in the image plane and the real distance between the sensor node and the camera. Many experiments have been simulated to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technique. Apart from this work, experiments are also carried out to locate any other new object in the video sensor network. The experimental results showcase the accuracy of building up one-plane network topology in relative coordinate system and also the robustness of the technique against the accumulated error in configuring the whole network

Les interventions efficaces pour aider les fumeurs à renoncer au tabac

Plusieurs interventions favorisant l’abandon du tabac ont été démontrées efficaces et elles sont essentielles à tout programme populationnel qui vise à réduire la morbidité et la mortalité liées aux problèmes de santé engendrés par la fumée de tabac. De telles mesures font partie de la Convention-cadre pour la lutte anti-tabac de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé : réglementations, politiques fiscales, élimination du commerce illicite, éducation du public, etc. Parmi les nombreuses dispositions contenues dans ce traité, on retrouve également des actions visant la promotion du sevrage tabagique et le traitement adéquat de la dépendance au tabac par les professionnels de la santé. En effet, le tabagisme est responsable de plus de 40 pathologies et 50 % des fumeurs chroniques meurent prématurément de maladies reliées à l’usage du tabac, perdant en moyenne une dizaine d’années de vie. Ainsi, les bénéfices de l’arrêt du tabagisme sur la santé sont considérables. L’objet de cet article est de dresser la liste des interventions disponibles pour aider les fumeurs à renoncer au tabac, les décrire et faire le point sur leur efficacité.Several interventions promoting smoking cessation have proved effective and are essential to any populational program designed to reduce morbidity and mortality related to health problems caused by tobacco smoke. Such measures are part of World Health Organization anti-tobacco treaty: regulations, tax policies, elimination of trafficking, public education, etc. Among the many provisions of this treaty are also actions designed to promote tobacco withdrawal and the appropriate treatment of tobacco dependence by health professionals. Tobacco use is responsible for over 40 pathologies, and 50% of all chronic smokers die prematurely of diseases related to tobacco use, with an average loss of ten years of life. Obviously, the benefits of smoking cessation on health are considerable. This article draws up a list of interventions available to help smokers give up tobacco, describes them and reports on their effectiveness.Se ha demostrado que numerosas intervenciones que favorecen el abandono del tabaco son eficaces y esenciales en todo programa poblacional destinado a reducir la morbididad y la mortalidad relacionadas con los problemas de salud engendrados por el humo del tabaco. Tales medidas integran el Convenio marco para el control del tabaco de la Organización Mundial de la Salud: reglamentaciones, políticas fiscales, eliminación del comercio ilegal, educación del público, etc. Entre las numerosas disposiciones contenidas en este tratado se encuentran también acciones destinadas a promover el abandono del tabaco y el tratamiento adecuado de la dependencia al tabaco por parte de los profesionales de la salud. En efecto, el tabaquismo es responsable de más de 40 patologías y el 50% de los fumadores crónicos mueren prematuramente de enfermedades relacionadas con el uso del tabaco, perdiendo en promedio una decena de años de vida. Los beneficios para la salud del abandono del tabaco son, por lo tanto, considerables. Este artículo se propone desarrollar una lista de intervenciones disponibles para ayudar a los fumadores a abandonar el consumo del tabaco, describirlas y precisar su eficacia

Information Technologies in Human Resources Management: An Overview

Human resources management is one of the most important areas that influence business performance. Information technologies applied within an organization brings integration of business processes and enables their functionality. Synergy of human resources management and application of information technologies is core architectural component of an organization that brings value to organizational processes outcomes. Therefore, it is of a great interest to determine their mutual influence. There are two mayor research perspectives of human resources management synergy with information technologies, that are presented in this paper: implementing information technologies in human resources management and influence of human resources management to information technology related projects and companies

Barriers to the adoption of energy efficiency measures in Mostaganem, Algeria.

The residential sector of Algeria consumes 29% of the total energy consumption. In order to reduce and address this consumption along with the challenges of climate change, the Algerian public policy considers energy efficiency investment measures (EEIMs) in the residential sector as a key factor. However, despite the recommendations and incitement measures from the government, the adoption of EEIMs of Algerian homeowners is too low. In 2018, EEIMs have been implemented in 4,000 houses. This number represents only 4% of the government's target which is the implementation of EEIMs in 100,000 houses per year. The present article, accordingly, attempts to explore the barriers to the adoption of EEIMs. To this effect, a questionnaire survey with 150 randomly selected Algerian single-family homeowners in Mostaganem area was used for the study. It was found that the five greatest barriers to the adoption of EEIMs were: (1) the lack of subsidies and rebates on energy efficient equipment, (2) the high initial prices of energy efficient equipment, (3) the lack of techniques and tools for the estimation of saved energy, (4) the unwillingness to borrow money and (5) the difficulty of identifying, procuring, installing, operating and maintaining energy efficiency measures. The principal component analysis categorised 16 barriers around four components: (1) “Financial” barriers, (2) “Technological” barriers, (3) “Lack of time and knowledge” barriers and (4) “Attitude towards energy efficiency improvements” barriers. Finally, the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) analysis has shown that the perception of barriers to the adoption of EEIMs also differs in accordance with certain personal characteristics of the homeowner

Extended grey wolf optimization–based adaptive fast nonsingular terminal sliding mode control of a robotic manipulator

This article proposes a novel hybrid metaheuristic technique based on nonsingular terminal sliding mode controller, time delay estimation method, an extended grey wolf optimization algorithm and adaptive super twisting control law. The fast convergence is assured by nonsingular terminal sliding mode controller owing to its inherent nonlinear property and no prior knowledge of the robot dynamics is required due to time delay estimation. The proposed extended grey wolf optimization algorithm determines an optimal approximation of the inertial matrix of the robot. Moreover, adaptive super twisting control based on the Lyapunov approach overcomes the disturbances and compensate the higher dynamics not achievable by the time delay estimation method. First, the fast nonsingular terminal sliding mode controller relying on time delay estimation is designed and is combined with super twisting control for chattering attenuation. The constant gain matrix of the time delay is determined by the proposed extended grey wolf optimization algorithm. Second, an adaptive law based on Lyapunov stability theorem is designed for improving tracking performance in the presence of uncertainties and disturbances. The novelty of the proposed method lies in the adaptive law where the prior knowledge of parametric uncertainties and disturbances is not needed. Moreover, the constant gain matrix of time delay estimation method is obtained using the proposed algorithm. The control method has been tested in simulation on a 3-degrees of freedom robotic manipulator in trajectory tracking mode in the presence of control disturbances and uncertainties. The results obtained confirmed the effectiveness, robustness and the superior precision of the proposed control method compared to the classical ones

Photonic mixer incorporating all-optical microwave frequency generator based on stimulated brillouin scattering using single laser source

© 2020 The Authors. Published by IEEE. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2975667In this paper, we report the theoretical and experimental implementation of a photonic mixer for Radio-Over-Fiber (RoF) transmission systems, which incorporates an all-optical 10.87 GHz microwave frequency signal generator based on beating laser frequency with its first order Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) frequency shift. A 13GHz Radio Frequency (RF) is down-converted to 2.13 GHz Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal. The proposed system configuration represents a cost-effective photonic mixer that can be deployed for up and down conversion around 11 GHz in RoF transmission systems. The optically generated microwave signal of 10.87 GHz has a phase noise of -109 dBc/Hz at 15-MHz offset. The proposed photonic mixer exhibits a Spurious-Free Dynamic Range (SFDR) of 93dB.Hz 2/3. This RoF transmission system configuration deploys dual parallel Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) Mach Zehnder Modulator as a photonic mixer, and a single laser source as a Brillouin pump and as an optical carrier at the same time. To the best of our knowledge, this type of photonic mixers has not been reported in the literature.This work was supported in part by the Leonardo–Electronics, Defense and Security Systems, Grant RF Broadband Project, under Grant RES-15287.Published versio