Une approche strategique du vote : à propos de « vote par appobation, vote par note »

Ce texte a pour ambition de revenir sur une procédure d'expérimentation destinée à tester l'impact du vote par approbation ainsi que du vote par note sur l'ampleur de ce qu'on a coutume d'appeler le vote utile. Les résultats de ces expériences, menées lors des élections présidentielles françaises de 2007 et de 2012, ont fait l'objet de deux articles publiés dans la Revue économique. Notre objectif est ici d'attirer l'attention du lecteur sur la conception implicite qui sous-tend ces expériences : le vote comme outil de dévoilement des préférences individuelles. Une telle orientation se fait au détriment d'une conception stratégique du vote, c'est-à-dire le vote comme processus de coordination. Or, il nous semble que le propre du vote utile est précisément de s'inscrire dans une dimension stratégique du vote, dimension que la procédure expérimentale mise en place tend à gommer en ne fournissant pas aux votants de repères informationnels relatifs aux choix des autres votants. On parlera à cet effet d'isolation informationnelle. This text has the ambition to return to an experimental procedure designed to test the impact of approval voting as well as evaluating voting on the scope of what is called in French vote utile (strategic voting). The results of these experiences, held during the 2007 and 2012 French presidential elections, have been the object of two papers published in the Revue économique. Our aim is to catch the attention of readers on the implicit conception inherent to these experiences: voting as a means to reveal individual preferences. Such a direction is taken at the cost of a strategic conception of voting, i.e. voting as a coordination process. Yet, it seems to us that the main characteristic of strategic voting is precisely to be strategic. The design of the experimental procedure tends to erase this dimension, by depriving the voters of information on other voter's choices. This is what we call informational isolation.

Big and Little OER

Much of the attention around OERs has been on institutional projects which make explicit learning content available. These can be classified as 'big OER' but another form of OER is that of small scale, individually produced resources using web 2.0 type services, which are classified as 'little OER'. This paper examines some of the differences between the use of these two types of OER to highlight issues in open education. These include attitudes towards reputation, the intentionality of the resource, models of sustainability, the implicit affordances of resources and the context of their hosting sites.

Opening Education Beyond the Property Relation: From Commons to Communism

Open Education, and specifically the OER movement, seeks to provide universal access to knowledge, undermining the historical enclosure and the increasing privatisation of the public education system. In this paper we examine this aspiration by submitting the implicit theoretical assumptions of Open Education to the test of critical political economy. We acknowledge the Open Education movement's revolutionary potential but outline the inherent limitations of its current focus on the commons (property relations) rather than the social relations of capitalist production (wage work, the company) and because of this, argue that it will only achieve limited, rather than revolutionary, impact.

Admission Control for TCP Flows Using Packet Classes and Edge-to-edge Measurements of Aggregates

TCP flows from applications such as the web or ftp are well supported by a Guaranteed Minimum Throughput Service (GMTS), which provides a minimum network throughput to the flow and, if possible, an extra throughput. We propose a scheme for a GMTS using Admission Control (AC) that is able to provide different minimum throughput to different users and that is suitable for "standard" TCP flows. Moreover, we consider a multidomain scenario where the scheme is used in one of the domains, and we propose some mechanisms for the interconnection with neighbor domains. The whole scheme uses a small set of packet classes in a core-stateless network where each class has a different discarding priority in queues assigned to it. The AC method involves only edge nodes and uses a special probing packet flow (marked as the highest discarding priority class) that is sent continuously from ingress to egress through a path. The available throughput in the path is obtained at the egress using measurements of flow aggregates, and then it is sent back to the ingress. At the ingress each flow is detected using an implicit way and then it is admission controlled. If it is accepted, it receives the GMTS and its packets are marked as the lowest discarding priority classes; otherwise, it receives a best-effort service. The scheme is evaluated through simulation in a simple "bottleneck" topology using different traffic loads consisting of "standard" TCP flows that carry files of varying sizes

Dam wall detection and tracking using a Mechanically Scanned Imaging Sonar

In dam inspection tasks, an underwater robot has to grab images while surveying the wall meanwhile maintaining a certain distance and relative orientation. This paper proposes the use of an MSIS (mechanically scanned imaging sonar) for relative positioning of a robot with respect to the wall. An imaging sonar gathers polar image scans from which depth images (range & bearing) are generated. Depth scans are first processed to extract a line corresponding to the wall (with the Hough transform), which is then tracked by means of an EKF (Extended Kalman Filter) using a static motion model and an implicit measurement equation associating the sensed points to the candidate line. The line estimate is referenced to the robot fixed frame and represented in polar coordinates (rho&thetas) which directly corresponds to the actual distance and relative orientation of the robot with respect to the wall. The proposed system has been tested in simulation as well as in water tank conditions

Lightweight monitoring of label switched paths for bandwidth management

The purpose of resource management is the efficient and effective use of network resources, for instance bandwidth. In this article, a connection oriented network scenario is considered, where a certain amount of bandwidth is reserved for each label switch path (LSP), which is a logical path, in a MPLS or GMPLS environment. Assuming there is also some kind of admission control (explicit or implicit), these environments typically provide quality of service (QoS) guarantees. It could happen that some LSPs become busy, thus rejecting connections, while other LSPs may be under-utilised. We propose a distributed lightweight monitoring technique, based on threshold values, the objective of which is to detect congestion when it occurs in an LSP and activate the corresponding alarm which will trigger a dynamic bandwidth reallocation mechanism

Integrating Metalib and SFX into the BV-SSPA

Introduction To guarantee the success of a virtual library it is essential that all users can access all the library resources independently of the user’s location. Achieving this goal in the Andalusian Public Health System has been a particularly difficult task, due to it is made up of 10 research centers and 95.000 health-care professionals. Aims Since the BV-SSPA started three years ago, one of its mayor aims has been to provide remote access to all its resources in this complex scenario, as well as facilitate the access to the virtual library to both professionals and citizens. IP access was guaranteed because health-care professionals could access everything from their workplaces thanks to the intranet, but it was restricted when they were not there. The BV-SSPA solved this problem by installing a federated authentication and authorization system called PAPI and a PAPI rewriting proxy. After three years the BV-SSPA has met a new challenge: adapting its federated access system to Metalib and SFX, specifically the access management module PDS had to be connected with the existing PAPI system. This new challenge came along with the introduction of a new metasearcher and link resolver. Material and Methods Initially there were three independent systems: • A Metalib and SFX PDS module, • A federated authentication and authorization system: PAPI. • A PAPI Rewriting Proxy. The chosen solution went through the reutilization of the existing software. To achieve this goal, a PHP connector between these applications was developed and several modules in the PDS configuration were modified. On the other hand, providing a simplified access to Metalib has been solved using Xerxes and integrating it in a Drupal website. Results Thanks to this connector the BV-SSPA was able to get all its users remotely accessing its new metasearcher without changing the way they used to validate, or without having to remember a new username and password. Futhermore, thanks to Xerxes, it is possible to use Metalib from a simple interface and without having to leave the BV-SSPA website to go its native interface.

How to Measure Scope Variables when no Metrics Exist : Application to Landscape Quality Measurement and Hedonic Price Evaluation

Landscape is an example of a non-market good where no metrics exist to measure its quality. The paper proposes an original methodology to nevertheless estimate scope variables in those circumstances, allowing then to better test if people's willingnesstopay for such good is sensitive to the scope. The methodology is based on techniques developed in the context of multicriteria decision analysis. It is applied to assess the quality of the landscape of several Swiss alpine resorts. This assessment is then used as an explanatory variable in a hedonic price function to explain the rent of apartments and to derive an implicit price of the landscape quality.

Al lado: Un método para la reducción del sufrimiento mediante decisiones compartidas, en Andalucía

The strategy "Next To", developed in Andalusia, about cooperation between public health services and associations of affected people, to improve the quality of care, has been applied, among other diseases, to the problems of adversity on child health. In order to explore the needs of affected population, it has been made a qualitative study with parents of deceased children, through which it has been identified the key points of improvement in relation to the suffering that occurs in the affected person and their next caregiver environment. The purpose of the study, in addition to identifying areas for improvement, includes providing proposals as recommendations. "Next To" as a participatory and transversal strategy, currently under development, is implicit in the objectives of the Fourth Andalusian Health Plan, since its application encourages the participation and empowerment of people affected by health adversity

Beyond Prejudice : conservation in the City : a case study from Switzerland

Conservation in the city is challenging because of a continued view that the urban realm is antithetical to nature. This was clearly the case when the first Swiss National Park was established at the beginning of the 20th century. New Swiss legislation brought new approaches to the establishment of natural parks, in particular by including human activities as a logical component in their development. In 2010, a Federal think tank discussed opportunities for launching a new kind of park: the Urban Natural Park. This paper reports an analysis of this discussion, together with the study of the literature dealing with conservation in the city and natural parks. It shows that a clear antagonism between city and nature still remains present, reflected in an implicit hierarchy hidden in the designation of natural parks: wild nature is nominated as the best nature; if not wild, the best nature is identified as rural; if neither wild nor rural, nature is thought not to be the concern of natural park policy. The Swiss Biodiversity Strategy implemented in 2012 is a recent recognition of the importance of urban nature for biodiversity conservation. This recognition, however, condemns urban nature to a special status, situated outside the usual framework of conservation management. I conclude by arguing that anti-urban bias must be addressed because it inhibits effective conservation strategy, prevents the identification of existing environmental qualities of cities and, eventually, has negative impacts on biological conservation outside the city because it fosters urban spreading.

"S'il vous plaît docteur, mettez-moi en arrêt"! Certificats médicaux pour raisons psychologiques ["Doctor please, give me a sick leave"!: medical certificates for psychological reasons].

General practitioners are regularly called to evaluate the psychological work capacity of patients. The implicit motivation behind the explicit reason for requesting a sick leave is linked to the subject's history and the way he transfers it in his professional life. An incapacity to work harbours a variety of challenges for the patient, the physician and their relationship. In order to get a better understanding of all the issues at stake, the doctor should understand the significances that represents the work to the patient and the consequences of a sick leave and its associated transference and countertransference issues.

Morphologic and electroretinographic phenotype of SR-BI knockout mice after a long-term atherogenic diet.

PURPOSE: To evaluate functional and ultrastructural changes in the retina of scavenger receptor B1 (SR-BI) knockout (KO) mice consuming a high fat cholate (HFC) diet. METHODS: Three-month-old male KO and wild-type (WT) mice were fed an HFC diet for 30 weeks. After diet supplementation, plasma cholesterol levels and electroretinograms were analyzed. Neutral lipids were detected with oil red O, and immunohistochemistry was performed on cryostat ocular tissue sections. The retina, Bruch's membrane (BM), retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and choriocapillaris (CC) were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Using the WT for reference, ultrastructural changes were recorded in HFC-fed SR-BI KO mice, including lipid inclusions, a patchy disorganization of the photoreceptor outer segment (POS) and the outer nuclear layer (ONL), and BM thickening with sparse sub-RPE deposits. Within the CC, there was abnormal disorganization of collagen fibers localized in ectopic sites with sparse and large vacuolization associated with infiltration of macrophages in the subretinal space, reflecting local inflammation. These lesions were associated with electroretinographic abnormalities, particularly increasing implicit time in a- and b-wave scotopic responses. Abnormal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) staining was detected in the outer nuclear layer. CONCLUSIONS: HFC-fed SR-BI KO mice thus presented sub-RPE lipid-rich deposits and functional and morphologic alterations similar to some features observed in dry AMD. The findings lend further support to the hypothesis that atherosclerosis causes retinal and subretinal damage that increases susceptibility to some forms of AMD.

Mòdul d'autenticació SAML2 per a Dokuwiki

En el projecte s'elabora un mòdul que permet l'autenticació federada de wikis amb un proveïdor d'identitat SAML 2.0. L'aplicació utilitzada per la gestió de les wikis és Dokuwiki i la llibreria utilitzada per aconseguir wikis federades en el protocol SAML 2.0 és simpleSAMLphp. El mòdul permet integrar Dokuwiki i simpleSAMLphp de manera que els usuaris no s'autentiquen en Dokuwiki sinò en el proveïdor d'identitat (IdP). El protocol SAML2 és un mètode d'autenticació Single Sign-On en què Dokuwiki demana autenticació al proveïdor d'identitat (IdP) mitjançant un proveïdor de servei (SP), que també està integrat en simpleSAMLphp. El mòdul es prova en tres situacions: I) El proveïdor d'identitat és extern, Feide OpenIdP. II) El proveïdor d'identitat és local i la font d'autenticació és estàtica. III) El proveïdor d'identitat és local i la font d'autenticació és un servidor OpenLDAP.

Incorporació de funcionalitats a la xarxa social kPAX: autenticació amb Facebook

L'objectiu general d'aquest projecte és la incorporació de funcionalitats a la xarxa social kPAX; més concretament, la possibilitat de fer l'autenticació dels usuaris mitjançant les seues credencials de la xarxa social Facebook.

Integration of olfactory information in a spatial representation enabling accurate arm choice in the radial arm maze

The aim of the present study was to determine whether and how rats can use local olfactory cues for spatial orientation. Rats were trained in an eight-arm radial maze under different conditions as defined by the presence or absence of supplementary olfactory cues marking each arm, the availability of distant visuospatial information, and the illumination of the maze (light or darkness). The different visual conditions were designed to dissociate among the effects of light per se and those of visuospatial cues, on the use of olfactory cues for accurate arm choice. Different procedures with modifications of the arrangement of olfactory cues were used to determine if rats formed a representation of the spatial configuration of the olfactory cues and if they could rely on such a representation for accurate arm choice in the radial maze. The present study demonstrated that the use of olfactory cues to direct arm choice in the radial arm maze was critically dependent on the illumination conditions and implied two different modes of processing of olfactory information according to the presence or the absence of light. Olfactory cues were used in an explicit manner and enabled accurate arm choice only in the absence of light. Rats, however, had an implicit memory of the location of the olfactory cues and formed a representation of the spatial position of these cues, whatever the lighting conditions. They did not memorize the spatial configuration of the olfactory cues per se but needed these cues to be linked to the external spatial frame of reference.