Holomorphic linearization of commuting germs of holomorphic maps

Let $f_1, ..., f_h$ be $h\ge 2$ germs of biholomorphisms of \C^n fixing the origin. We investigate the shape a (formal) simultaneous linearization of the given germs can have, and we prove that if $f_1, ..., f_h$ commute and their linear parts are almost simultaneously Jordanizable then they are simultaneously formally linearizable. We next introduce a simultaneous Brjuno-type condition and prove that, in case the linear terms of the germs are diagonalizable, if the germs commutes and our Brjuno-type condition holds, then they are holomorphically simultaneously linerizable. This answers to a multi-dimensional version of a problem raised by Moser.Comment: 24 pages; final version with erratum (My original paper failed to cite the work of L. Stolovitch [ArXiv:math/0506052v2]); J. Geom. Anal. 201

Understanding the needs of Mena public transport customers: culture of service and gender responsive recommendations

Fast population growth, urban sprawl and the raise in households’ motorization observed in all major cities of the Middle-East and North-Africa (MENA) region, are constantly challenging public transport providers who seek to handle efficiently the continuously rising travel demand. Most of the MENA cities suffer from traffic congestion that not only impacts the quality of life of MENA citizens, but also their access to job opportunities, health services, and social and political participation. Alongside the development of public transport network, it is crucial to encourage urban dwellers to reduce their dependence on personal cars, use public transport, and develop soft mobility skills. Therefore, operators and service providers need to define customer-centric strategy and build a culture of service excellence in line with their customers’expectations. In cooperation with academic partners, the UITP MENA Centre for Transport Excellence launched the User-Oriented Public Transport research project with the aim to understand the perceptions of female and male users and non-users about public transport services in five MENA cities: Algiers, Amman, Beirut, Casablanca and Muscat. The methodological framework was built around the five dimensions of the user’s needs pyramid: safety, security, ease-to-use, comfort and experience. Based on the quantitative analysis of data collected from 984 respondents and the qualitative analysis of 49 women’s testimonies collected during the focus groups, recommendations were made to encourage culture of service and gender mainstreaming in public transport development in the region

Modelling the Dynamics of an Aedes albopictus Population

We present a methodology for modelling population dynamics with formal means of computer science. This allows unambiguous description of systems and application of analysis tools such as simulators and model checkers. In particular, the dynamics of a population of Aedes albopictus (a species of mosquito) and its modelling with the Stochastic Calculus of Looping Sequences (Stochastic CLS) are considered. The use of Stochastic CLS to model population dynamics requires an extension which allows environmental events (such as changes in the temperature and rainfalls) to be taken into account. A simulator for the constructed model is developed via translation into the specification language Maude, and used to compare the dynamics obtained from the model with real data.Comment: In Proceedings AMCA-POP 2010, arXiv:1008.314

Effect of Supplementary Cementitious Materials on the Compressive Strength and Durability of Short-Term Cured Concrete

This research focuses on studying the effect different supplementary cementitious materials (silica fume, fly ash, slag, and their combinations) on strength and durability of concrete cured for a short period of time—14 days. This work primarily deals with the characteristics of these materials, including strength, durability, and resistance to wet and dry and freeze and thaw environments. Over 16 mixes were made and compared to the control mix. Each of these mixes was either differing in the percentages of the additives or was combinations of two or more additives. All specimens were moist cured for 14 days before testing or subjected to environmental exposure. The freeze–thaw and wet–dry specimens were also compared to the control mix. Results show that at 14 days of curing, the use of supplementary cementitious materials reduced both strength and freeze–thaw durability of concrete. The combination of 10% silica fume, 25% slag, and 15% fly ash produced high strength and high resistance to freeze–thaw and wet–dry exposures as compared to other mixes. This study showed that it is imperative to cure the concrete for an extended period of time, especially those with fly ash and slag, to obtain good strength and durability. Literature review on the use of different supplementary cementitious materials in concrete to enhance strength and durability was also reported

Social sciences research in neglected tropical diseases 2: A bibliographic analysis

The official published version of the article can be found at the link below.Background There are strong arguments for social science and interdisciplinary research in the neglected tropical diseases. These diseases represent a rich and dynamic interplay between vector, host, and pathogen which occurs within social, physical and biological contexts. The overwhelming sense, however, is that neglected tropical diseases research is a biomedical endeavour largely excluding the social sciences. The purpose of this review is to provide a baseline for discussing the quantum and nature of the science that is being conducted, and the extent to which the social sciences are a part of that. Methods A bibliographic analysis was conducted of neglected tropical diseases related research papers published over the past 10 years in biomedical and social sciences. The analysis had textual and bibliometric facets, and focussed on chikungunya, dengue, visceral leishmaniasis, and onchocerciasis. Results There is substantial variation in the number of publications associated with each disease. The proportion of the research that is social science based appears remarkably consistent (<4%). A textual analysis, however, reveals a degree of misclassification by the abstracting service where a surprising proportion of the "social sciences" research was pure clinical research. Much of the social sciences research also tends to be "hand maiden" research focused on the implementation of biomedical solutions. Conclusion There is little evidence that scientists pay any attention to the complex social, cultural, biological, and environmental dynamic involved in human pathogenesis. There is little investigator driven social science and a poor presence of interdisciplinary science. The research needs more sophisticated funders and priority setters who are not beguiled by uncritical biomedical promises

An integrative approach to discovering cryptic species within the Bemisia tabaci whitefly species complex

Bemisia tabaci is a cryptic whitefly-species complex that includes some of the most damaging pests and plant-virus vectors of a diverse range of food and fibre crops worldwide. We combine experimental evidence of: (i) differences in reproductive compatibility, (ii) hybrid verification using a specific nuclear DNA marker and hybrid fertility confirmation and (iii) high-throughput sequencing-derived mitogenomes, to show that the “Mediterranean” (MED) B. tabaci comprises at least two distinct biological species; the globally invasive MED from the Mediterranean Basin and the “African silver-leafing” (ASL) from sub-Saharan Africa, which has no associated invasion records. We demonstrate that, contrary to its common name, the “ASL” does not induce squash silver-leafing symptoms and show that species delimitation based on the widely applied 3.5% partial mtCOI gene sequence divergence threshold produces discordant results, depending on the mtCOI region selected. Of the 292 published mtCOI sequences from MED/ASL groups, 158 (54%) are low quality and/or potential pseudogenes. We demonstrate fundamental deficiencies in delimiting cryptic B. tabaci species, based solely on partial sequences of a mitochondrial barcoding gene. We advocate an integrative approach to reveal the true species richness within cryptic species complexes, which is integral to the deployment of effective pest and disease management strategies

Regime-Dependent Sovereign Risk Pricing During the Euro Crisis

Previous work has documented a greater sensitivity of long-term government bond yields to fundamentals in euro area peripheral countries during the euro crisis, but we know little about the driver(s) of regime switches. Our estimates based on a panel smooth threshold regression model quantify and explain them: (1) investors have penalized a deterioration of fundamentals more strongly from 2010 to 2012; (2) the higher the bank credit risk, measured with the premium on credit derivatives, the higher the extra premium on fundamentals; (3) after ECB President Draghi’s speech in July 2012, it took 1 year to restore the noncrisis regime and suppress the extra premiu

African ancestry of New World, Bemisia tabaci-whitefly species

Bemisia tabaci whitefly species are some of the world’s most devastating agricultural pests and plant-virus disease vectors. Elucidation of the phylogenetic relationships in the group is the basis for understanding their evolution, biogeography, gene-functions and development of novel control technologies. We report here the discovery of five new Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) B. tabaci putative species, using the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene: SSA9, SSA10, SSA11, SSA12 and SSA13. Two of them, SSA10 and SSA11 clustered with the New World species and shared 84.8‒86.5% sequence identities. SSA10 and SSA11 provide new evidence for a close evolutionary link between the Old and New World species. Re-analysis of the evolutionary history of B. tabaci species group indicates that the new African species (SSA10 and SSA11) diverged from the New World clade c. 25 million years ago. The new putative species enable us to: (i) re-evaluate current models of B. tabaci evolution, (ii) recognise increased diversity within this cryptic species group and (iii) re-estimate divergence dates in evolutionary time

Genetic diversity and colony breeding structure in native and introduced ranges of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus is recognized as one of the most important invasive pest species. Originating from China, C. formosanus has spread to many tropical and subtropical regions around the globe in the last 400 years, including Japan, Hawaii and the continental USA. Although the current distribution is well documented, information about the patterns of invasion and effects of introduction on the population genetics of this species is largely lacking. We analyzed the genetic structure of populations from two native populations (Guangdong and Hunan provinces, China) and two introduced populations (Maui and Kauai, Hawaii) using microsatellite genotyping. We also reanalyzed published data of additional populations from China, Japan, Hawaii, and the continental USA. The population from Hunan, the earliest introduction outside of China (Japan) and the first introduction to the continental USA (South Carolina) showed little genetic similarity with any of the native or introduced populations investigated. However, populations from Oahu (HI), New Orleans (LA) and Rutherford County (NC) showed close similarity. In general, genetic patterns suggest multiple introductions to the USA, with, for example, two separate introductions to the island of Maui. Bottleneck effects were detected in almost all recent introductions (after 1940). All populations in the introduced range showed lower genetic diversity than those in the native range. However, this low genetic diversity did not result in the formation of polygynous supercolonies as has been described for other invasive termite and ant species. © 2011 The Author(s)