Understanding European cross-border cooperation: a framework for analysis

European integration has had a dual impact on border regions. On the one hand, borders were physically dismantled across most of the EU’s internal territory. On the other hand, they have become a fertile ground for territorial co-operation and institutional innovation. The degree of cross-border co-operation and organization achieved varies considerably from one region to another depending on a combination of various facilitating factors for effective cross-border co-operation, more specifically, economic, political leadership, cultural/identity and state formation, and geographical factors. This article offers a conceptual framework to understand the growth and diversity of cross-border regionalism within the EU context by focusing on the levels of and drives for co-operation

Cardiorespiratory fitness estimation using wearable sensors: laboratory and free-living analysis of context-specific submaximal heart rates

In this work, we propose to use pattern recognition methods to determine submaximal heart rate (HR) during specific contexts, such as walking at a certain speed, using wearable sensors in free-living, and use context-specific HR to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). CRF of 51 participants was assessed by a maximal exertion test (VO2max). Participants wore a combined accelerometer and HR monitor during a laboratory based simulation of activities of daily living and for two weeks in free-living. Anthropometrics, HR while lying down and walking at predefined speeds in laboratory settings were used to estimate CRF. Explained variance (R2) was 0.64 for anthropometrics, and increased up to 0.74 for context-specific HR (0.73 to 0.78 when including fat-free mass). Then, we developed activity recognition and walking speed estimation algorithms to determine the same contexts (i.e. lying down and walking) in free-living. Context-specific HR in free-living was highly correlated with laboratory measurements (Pearson's r = 0.71-0.75). R2 for CRF estimation was 0.65 when anthropometrics were used as predictors, and increased up to 0.77 when including free-living context-specific HR (i.e. HR while walking at 5.5 km/h). R2 varied between 0.73 and 0.80 when including fat-free mass among the predictors. RMSE was reduced from 354.7 ml/min to 281.0 ml/min by the inclusion of context-specific HR parameters (21% error reduction). We conclude that pattern recognition techniques can be used to contextualize HR in free-living and estimated CRF with accuracy comparable to what can be obtained with laboratory measurements of HR response to walking

Multi-instrumental analysis of large sprite events and their producing storm in southern France

During the night of 01-02 September, 2009, seventeen distinct sprite events including 3 halos were observed above a storm in north-western Mediterranean Sea, with a video camera at Pic du Midi (42.93N; 0.14E; 2877m). The sprites occurred at distances between 280 and 390km which are estimated based on their parent CG location. The MCS-type storm was characterized by a trailing-stratiform structure and a very circular shape with a size of about 70,000km2 (cloud top temperature lower than -35°C) when the TLEs were observed. The cloud to ground (CG) flash rate was large (45min-1) one hour before the TLE observation and very low (<5min-1) during it. Out of the 17 sprite events, 15 parent+CG (P+CG) strokes have been identified and their average peak current is 87kA (67kA for the 14 events without halo), while the associated charge moment changes (CMC) that could be determined, range from 424 to 2088±20%Ckm. Several 2-second videos contain multiple sprite events: one with four events, one with three events and three with two events. Column and carrot type sprites are identified, either together or separately. All P+CG strokes are clearly located within the stratiform region of the storm and the second P+CG stroke of a multiple event is back within the stratiform region. Groups of large and bright carrots reach ~70km height and ~80km horizontal extent. These groups are associated with a second pulse of electric field radiation in the ELF range which occurs ~5ms after the P+CG stroke and exhibits the same polarity, which is evidence for current in the sprite body. VLF perturbations associated with the sprite events were recorded with a station in Algiers. © 2012 Elsevier B.V

Alternatives for reductionist approaches to comparative Bantu grammar

Studies on most domains of comparative Bantu grammar are typically confronted with a huge amount of data and complex, interacting dimensions of variation. They tend to involve an initial methodological step of reducing this variation by classifying constructions, grammatical properties or entire languages into a finite set of types. This paper argues against such reductionist approaches to linguistic evidence and illustrates several methodological alternatives, one of which is here introduced as the scenario-based approach. I will argue that these alternative approaches are at least as good in managing data and finding generalisations as the reductionist approach, but that they give more reliable results and are better at discovering variation.Les études portant sur la plupart des domaines de la grammaire bantoue comparée sont généralement confrontées à une énorme quantité de données et à des dimensions de variation complexes et interactives. Elles tendent à induire une étape méthodologique initiale de réduction de cette variation en classant les constructions, les propriétés grammaticales ou les langues entières dans un ensemble fini de types. Cet article s'oppose à ces approches réductionnistes des données linguistiques et illustre plusieurs alternatives méthodologiques, dont l'une est présentée ici comme l'approche basée sur des scénarios. Je soutiens que ces approches alternatives sont au moins aussi efficaces pour gérer les données et trouver des généralisations que l'approche réductionniste, mais qu'elles donnent des résultats plus fiables et permettent de mieux mettre en lumière la variation

Computational hyperspectral interferometry for studies of brain function: Proof of concept

Hyperspectral interferometric microscopy uses a unique combination of optics and algorithm design to extract information. Local brain activity rapidly changes local blood flow and red blood cell concentration (absorption) and oxygenation (color). We demonstrate that brain activity evoked during whisker stimulation can be detected with hyperspectral interferometric microscopy to identify the active whisker-barrel cortex in the rat brain. Information about constituent components is extracted across the entire spectral band. Algorithms can be flexibly optimized to discover, detect, quantify, and visualize a wide range of significant biological events, including changes relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of disease. © 2006 Optical Society of America

Intercalation-enhanced electric polarization and chain formation of nano-layered particles

Microscopy observations show that suspensions of synthetic and natural nano-layered smectite clay particles submitted to a strong external electric field undergo a fast and extended structuring. This structuring results from the interaction between induced electric dipoles, and is only possible for particles with suitable polarization properties. Smectite clay colloids are observed to be particularly suitable, in contrast to similar suspensions of a non-swelling clay. Synchrotron X-ray scattering experiments provide the orientation distributions for the particles. These distributions are understood in terms of competing (i) homogenizing entropy and (ii) interaction between the particles and the local electric field; they show that clay particles polarize along their silica sheet. Furthermore, a change in the platelet separation inside nano-layered particles occurs under application of the electric field, indicating that intercalated ions and water molecules play a role in their electric polarization. The resulting induced dipole is structurally attached to the particle, and this causes particles to reorient and interact, resulting in the observed macroscopic structuring. The macroscopic properties of these electro-rheological smectite suspensions may be tuned by controlling the nature and quantity of the intercalated species, at the nanoscale.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure