bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Capilloquinol: A Novel Farnesyl Quinol from the Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral Sinularia capillosa
Authors: Cheng Shi-Yie , Huang Ki-Jhih , Wang Shang-Kwei , Duh Chang-Yih
Published: August 2011

Capilloquinol (1), possessing an unprecedented farnesyl quinoid skeleton, was isolated from the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Sinularia capillosa. The structure of capilloquinol was elucidated by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. The cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against human cytomegalovirus of 1 was evaluated in vitro.
Identification of Dehydroxytrichostatin A as a Novel Up-Regulator of the ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A1 (ABCA1)
Authors: Xu Yang , Xu Yanni , Bao Yi , Hong Bin , Si Shuyi
Published: August 2011

The ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) mediates the cellular efflux of excess cholesterol and phospholipids to lipid-poor apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I). ABCA1 plays an important role in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) biogenesis and reverse cholesterol transport. By using a cell-based screening model for the ABCA1 up-regulator and column chromatography, an active compound, 9179B, was isolated. Through analysis of its NMR data, 9179B was identified as dehydroxytrichostatin A. We found that 9179B increased the transcription of ABCA1 in a cell-based reporter assay, with an EC50 value of 2.65 μM. 9179B up-regulated ABCA1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in HepG2 and RAW264.7 cells. It also up-regulated the expression of scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) as well as the uptake of DiI-HDL in RAW264.7 cells. This compound stimulated ApoA-I-mediated cellular cholesterol efflux from RAW 264.7 cells. We further found that 9179B was a potent histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor with an IC50 value of 0.08 μM. Reporter gene assays showed that the regulation of ABCA1 transcription by 9179B was mainly mediated by the −171/−75 bp promoter region. Together, our results indicate that 9179B is an ABCA1 up-regulator and dehydroxytrichostatin A may be a novel anti-atherogenic compound.
Effect of ASP2151, a Herpesvirus Helicase-Primase Inhibitor, in a Guinea Pig Model of Genital Herpes
Authors: Katsumata Kiyomitsu , Chono Koji , Sudo Kenji , Shimizu Yasuaki , Kontani Toru , Suzuki Hiroshi
Published: August 2011

ASP2151 is a herpesvirus helicase-primase inhibitor with antiviral activity against varicella zoster virus and herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2). Here, we examined the potency and efficacy of ASP2151 against HSV in vitro and in vivo. We found that ASP2151 was more potent in inhibiting the replication of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in Vero cells in the plaque reduction assay and had greater anti-HSV activity in a guinea pig model of genital herpes than did acyclovir and valacyclovir (VACV), respectively. Oral ASP2151 given from the day of infection reduced peak and overall disease scores in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in complete prevention of symptoms at the dose of 30 mg/kg. The 50% effective dose (ED50) values for ASP2151 and VACV were 0.37 and 68 mg/kg, respectively, indicating that ASP2151 was 184-fold more potent than VACV. When ASP2151 was administered after the onset of symptoms, the disease course of genital herpes was suppressed more effectively than by VACV, with a significant reduction in disease score observed one day after starting ASP2151 at 30 mg/kg, whereas the therapeutic effect of VACV was only evident three days after treatment at the highest dose tested (300 mg/kg). This indicated that ASP2151 possesses a faster onset of action and wider therapeutic time window than VACV. Further, virus shedding from the genital mucosa was significantly reduced with ASP2151 at 10 and 30 mg/kg but not with VACV, even at 300 mg/kg. Taken together, our present findings demonstrated the superior potency and efficacy of ASP2151 against HSV.
Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Attributes and Phenolics of Different Solvent Extracts from Leaves, Flowers and Bark of Gold Mohar [Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf.]
Authors: Shabir Ghulam , Anwar Farooq , Sultana Bushra , Khalid Zafar M. , Afzal Muhammad , Khan Qaiser M. , Ashrafuzzaman M.
Published: August 2011

This paper describes the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and phenolic components of different solvent (absolute methanol, absolute ethanol, absolute acetone, 80% methanol, 80% ethanol, 80% acetone and deionized water) extracts of leaves, flowers and bark of Gold Mohar [Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf.]. The extract yields from leaves, flowers and bark ranged from 10.19 to 36.24, 12.97 to 48.47 and 4.22 to 8.48 g/100 g dry weight (DW), respectively. Overall, 80% methanol extract produced from the leaves exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher antioxidant activity, with high phenolic contents (3.63 g GAE/100 g DW), total flavonoid contents (1.19 g CE/100 g DW), inhibition of peroxidation (85.54%), DPPH scavenging capacity (IC50 value 8.89 μg/mL) and reducing power (1.87). Similarly, this 80% methanol leaves extract also showed superior antimicrobial activity. HPLC analysis of the 80% methanol extracts for individual phenolics revealed the presence of gallic, protocatechuic and salicylic acid in leaves; gallic, protocatechuic, salicylic, trans-cinnamic and chlorogenic acid in flowers, and gallic acid in bark as the main (amount > 1.50 mg/100 g DW) phenolic acids. Besides, small amounts ( < 1.50 mg/100 g DW) of some other phenolic acids such as sorbic, sinapic, p-coumaric, m-coumaric, ferulic, caffeic, 3-hydroxybenzoic, 4-hydroxycinnamic and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids were also detected. The extracts of the tested parts of Gold Mohar, especially, the leaves, might be valuable for functional food and therapeutic applications.
Development and Validation of a Microbiological Agar Assay for Determination of Orbifloxacin in Pharmaceutical Preparations
Authors: Cazedey Edith C. L. , Salgado Hérida R. N.
Published: August 2011

Orbifloxacin is a fluoroquinolone with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and belongs to the third generation of quinolones. Regarding the quality control of medicines, a validated microbiological assay for determination of orbifloxacin in pharmaceutical formulations has not as yet been reported. For this purpose, this paper reports the development and validation of a simple, sensitive, accurate and reproducible agar diffusion method to quantify orbifloxacin in tablet formulations. The assay is based on the inhibitory effect of orbifloxacin upon the strain of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 used as test microorganism. The results were treated statistically by analysis of variance and were found to be linear (r = 0.9992) in the selected range of 16.0–64.0 μg/mL, precise with relative standard deviation (RSD) of repeatability intraday = 2.88%, intermediate precision RSD = 3.33%, and accurate (100.31%). The results demonstrated the validity of the proposed bioassay, which allows reliable orbifloxacin quantitation in pharmaceutical samples and therefore can be used as a useful alternative methodology for the routine quality control of this medicine.
Can the Future EnMAP Mission Contribute to Urban Applications? A Literature Survey
Authors: Heldens Wieke , Heiden Uta , Esch Thomas , Stein Enrico , Müller Andreas
Published: August 2011

With urban populations and their footprints growing globally, the need to assess the dynamics of the urban environment increases. Remote sensing is one approach that can analyze these developments quantitatively with respect to spatially and temporally large scale changes. With the 2015 launch of the spaceborne EnMAP mission, a new hyperspectral sensor with high signal-to-noise ratio at medium spatial resolution, and a 21 day global revisit capability will become available. This paper presents the results of a literature survey on existing applications and image analysis techniques in the context of urban remote sensing in order to identify and outline potential contributions of the future EnMAP mission. Regarding urban applications, four frequently addressed topics have been identified: urban development and planning, urban growth assessment, risk and vulnerability assessment and urban climate. The requirements of four application fields and associated image processing techniques used to retrieve desired parameters and create geo-information products have been reviewed. As a result, we identified promising research directions enabling the use of EnMAP for urban studies. First and foremost, research is required to analyze the spectral information content of an EnMAP pixel used to support material-based land cover mapping approaches. This information can subsequently be used to improve urban indicators, such as imperviousness. Second, we identified the global monitoring of urban areas as a promising field of investigation taking advantage of EnMAP’s spatial coverage and revisit capability. However, owing to the limitations of EnMAPs spatial resolution for urban applications, research should also focus on hyperspectral resolution enhancement to enable retrieving material information on sub-pixel level.
LIDAR and SODAR Measurements of Wind Speed and Direction in Upland Terrain for Wind Energy Purposes
Authors: Lang Steven , McKeogh Eamon
Published: August 2011

Detailed knowledge of the wind resource is necessary in the developmental and operational stages of a wind farm site. As wind turbines continue to grow in size, masts for mounting cup anemometers—the accepted standard for resource assessment—have necessarily become much taller, and much more expensive. This limitation has driven the commercialization of two remote sensing (RS) tools for the wind energy industry: The LIDAR and the SODAR, Doppler effect instruments using light and sound, respectively. They are ground-based and can work over hundreds of meters, sufficient for the tallest turbines in, or planned for, production. This study compares wind measurements from two commercial RS instruments against an instrumented mast, in upland (semi-complex) terrain typical of where many wind farms are now being installed worldwide. With appropriate filtering, regression analyses suggest a good correlation between the RS instruments and mast instruments: The RS instruments generally recorded lower wind speeds than the cup anemometers, with the LIDAR more accurate and the SODAR more precise.
Suppression of Air Refractive Index Variations in High-Resolution Interferometry
Authors: Lazar Josef , Číp Ondřej , Čížek Martin , Hrabina Jan , Buchta Zdeněk
Published: August 2011

The influence of the refractive index of air has proven to be a major problem on the road to improvement of the uncertainty in interferometric displacement measurements. We propose an approach with two counter-measuring interferometers acting as a combination of tracking refractometer and a displacement interferometer referencing the wavelength of the laser source to a mechanical standard made of a material with ultra-low thermal expansion. This technique combines length measurement within a specified range with measurement of the refractive index fluctuations in one axis. Errors caused by different position of the interferometer laser beam and air sensors are thus eliminated. The method has been experimentally tested in comparison with the indirect measurement of the refractive index of air in a thermal controlled environment. Over a 1 K temperature range an agreement on the level of 5 × 10−8 has been achieved.
Robust Automatic Focus Algorithm for Low Contrast Images Using a New Contrast Measure
Authors: Xu Xin , Wang Yinglin , Tang Jinshan , Zhang Xiaolong , Liu Xiaoming
Published: August 2011

Low contrast images, suffering from a lack of sharpness, are easily influenced by noise. As a result, many local false peaks may be generated in contrast measurements, making it difficult for the camera’s passive auto-focus system to perform its function of locating the focused peak. In this paper, a new passive auto-focus algorithm is proposed to address this problem. First, a noise reduction preprocessing is introduced to make our algorithm robust to both additive noise and multiplicative noise. Then, a new contrast measure is presented to bring in local false peaks, ensuring the presence of a well defined focused peak. In order to gauge the performance of our algorithm, a modified peak search algorithm is used in the experiments. The experimental results from an actual digital camera validate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm.
The Effect on Wireless Sensor Communication When Deployed in Biomass
Authors: Larsen Jakob Juul , Green Ole , Nadimi Esmaeil S. , Toftegaard Thomas Skjodeberg
Published: August 2011

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) have been studied in a variety of scenarios over recent years, but work has almost exclusively been done using air as the transmission media. In this article some of the challenges of deploying a WSN in a heterogeneous biomass, in this case silage, is handled. The dielectric constant of silage is measured using an open-ended coaxial probe. Results were successfully obtained in the frequency range from 400 MHz to 4 GHz, but large variations suggested that a larger probe should be used for more stable results. Furthermore, the detuning of helix and loop antennas and the transmission loss of the two types of antennas embedded in silage was measured. It was found that the loop antenna suffered less from detuning but was worse when transmitting. Lastly, it is suggested that taking the dielectric properties of silage into account during hardware development could result in much better achievable communication range.
Odometry and Laser Scanner Fusion Based on a Discrete Extended Kalman Filter for Robotic Platooning Guidance
Authors: Espinosa Felipe , Santos Carlos , Marrón-Romera Marta , Pizarro Daniel , Valdés Fernando , Dongil Javier
Published: August 2011

This paper describes a relative localization system used to achieve the navigation of a convoy of robotic units in indoor environments. This positioning system is carried out fusing two sensorial sources: (a) an odometric system and (b) a laser scanner together with artificial landmarks located on top of the units. The laser source allows one to compensate the cumulative error inherent to dead-reckoning; whereas the odometry source provides less pose uncertainty in short trajectories. A discrete Extended Kalman Filter, customized for this application, is used in order to accomplish this aim under real time constraints. Different experimental results with a convoy of Pioneer P3-DX units tracking non-linear trajectories are shown. The paper shows that a simple setup based on low cost laser range systems and robot built-in odometry sensors is able to give a high degree of robustness and accuracy to the relative localization problem of convoy units for indoor applications.
Ontological Problem-Solving Framework for Assigning Sensor Systems and Algorithms to High-Level Missions
Authors: Qualls Joseph , Russomanno David J.
Published: August 2011

The lack of knowledge models to represent sensor systems, algorithms, and missions makes opportunistically discovering a synthesis of systems and algorithms that can satisfy high-level mission specifications impractical. A novel ontological problem-solving framework has been designed that leverages knowledge models describing sensors, algorithms, and high-level missions to facilitate automated inference of assigning systems to subtasks that may satisfy a given mission specification. To demonstrate the efficacy of the ontological problem-solving architecture, a family of persistence surveillance sensor systems and algorithms has been instantiated in a prototype environment to demonstrate the assignment of systems to subtasks of high-level missions.
A Novel Addressing Scheme for PMIPv6 Based Global IP-WSNs
Authors: Islam Md. Motaharul , Huh Eui-Nam
Published: August 2011

IP based Wireless Sensor Networks (IP-WSNs) are being used in healthcare, home automation, industrial control and agricultural monitoring. In most of these applications global addressing of individual IP-WSN nodes and layer-three routing for mobility enabled IP-WSN with special attention to reliability, energy efficiency and end to end delay minimization are a few of the major issues to be addressed. Most of the routing protocols in WSN are based on layer-two approaches. For reliability and end to end communication enhancement the necessity of layer-three routing for IP-WSNs is generating significant attention among the research community, but due to the hurdle of maintaining routing state and other communication overhead, it was not possible to introduce a layer-three routing protocol for IP-WSNs. To address this issue we propose in this paper a global addressing scheme and layer-three based hierarchical routing protocol. The proposed addressing and routing approach focuses on all the above mentioned issues. Simulation results show that the proposed addressing and routing approach significantly enhances the reliability, energy efficiency and end to end delay minimization. We also present architecture, message formats and different routing scenarios in this paper.
Herbicide-tolerant Transgenic Soybean over 15 Years of Cultivation: Pesticide Use, Weed Resistance, and Some Economic Issues. The Case of the USA
Authors: Bonny Sylvie
Published: August 2011

Genetically modified (GM) herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops have been largely adopted where they have been authorized. Nevertheless, they are fiercely criticized by some, notably because of the herbicide use associated with them. However, how much herbicide is applied to GMHT crops compared to conventional crops, and what impacts does the use of herbicide have? The paper first presents some factors explaining the predominance of GMHT crops. Then, trends in the use of herbicide for GM crops are studied in the case of the most widespread HT crop: HT soybean in the USA. The trends in the toxicity of herbicides applied to HT soybean are also addressed, as well as the appearance of glyphosate-resistant (GR) weeds. Lastly, the paper examines the spread of GR weeds and its impact. How are farmers, weed scientists, and the industry coping with this development, and what are the prospects of glyphosate-tolerant crops given weed resistance? In conclusion, some issues of sustainability and innovation governance raised by genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops are discussed.
Coping with Complex Environmental and Societal Flood Risk Management Decisions: An Integrated Multi-criteria Framework
Authors: Hansson Karin , Larsson Aron , Danielson Mats , Ekenberg Love
Published: August 2011

During recent years, a great deal of attention has been focused on the financial risk management of natural disasters. One reason behind is that the economic losses from floods, windstorms, earthquakes and other disasters in both the developing and developed countries are escalating dramatically. It has become apparent that an integrated water resource management approach would be beneficial in order to take both the best interests of society and of the environment into consideration. One improvement consists of models capable of handling multiple criteria (conflicting objectives) as well as multiple stakeholders (conflicting interests). A systems approach is applied for coping with complex environmental and societal risk management decisions with respect to flood catastrophe policy formation, wherein the emphasis is on computer-based modeling and simulation techniques combined with methods for evaluating strategies where numerous stakeholders are incorporated in the process. The resulting framework consists of a simulation model, a decision analytical tool, and a set of suggested policy strategies for policy formulation. The framework will aid decision makers with high risk complex environmental decisions subject to significant uncertainties.
The Prevalence and Significance of HTLV-I/II Seroindeterminate Western Blot Patterns
Authors: Abrams Anna , Akahata Yoshimi , Jacobson Steven
Published: August 2011

Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infects an estimated 15–20 million persons worldwide. A number of diseases have been associated with the virus including adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), HTLV-I uveitis, and HTLV-I-associated infective dermatitis. Once it was shown that there is an increased risk for developing HAM/TSP associated with blood transfusion, screening for HTLV-1 among blood banks was implemented in Japan, United States, France, and the Netherlands. This process includes detection by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) followed by a confirmatory Western blot (WB) in which recombinant proteins specific for HTLV-I Env glycoproteins are incorporated into WB strips. HTLV-I seropositive results are defined by the presence of antibodies against either gp46 or gp62/68 (both Env protein bands) and either p19, p24, or p53 (one of the gag bands). HTLV-II seropositivity is confirmed by the presence of rgp46-II. However, numerous cases have been documented in which serum samples are reactive by EIA, but an incomplete banding pattern is displayed by subsequent confirmatory WB. Although the significance of these HTLV-I/II seroindeterminates is unclear, it may suggest a much higher incidence of exposure to HTLV-I/II than previously estimated.
Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) and Regulatory T Cells in HTLV-1-Associated Neuroinflammatory Disease
Authors: Araya Natsumi , Sato Tomoo , Yagishita Naoko , Ando Hitoshi , Utsunomiya Atae , Jacobson Steven , Yamano Yoshihisa
Published: August 2011

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus that is the causative agent of adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and associated with multiorgan inflammatory disorders, including HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and uveitis. HTLV-1-infected T cells have been hypothesized to contribute to the development of these disorders, although the precise mechanisms are not well understood. HTLV-1 primarily infects CD4+ T helper (Th) cells that play a central role in adaptive immune responses. Based on their functions, patterns of cytokine secretion, and expression of specific transcription factors and chemokine receptors, Th cells that are differentiated from naïve CD4+ T cells are classified into four major lineages: Th1, Th2, Th17, and T regulatory (Treg) cells. The CD4+CD25+CCR4+ T cell population, which consists primarily of suppressive T cell subsets, such as the Treg and Th2 subsets in healthy individuals, is the predominant viral reservoir of HTLV-1 in both ATL and HAM/TSP patients. Interestingly, CD4+CD25+CCR4+ T cells become Th1-like cells in HAM/TSP patients, as evidenced by their overproduction of IFN-γ, suggesting that HTLV-1 may intracellularly induce T cell plasticity from Treg to IFN-γ+ T cells. This review examines the recent research into the association between HTLV-1 and Treg cells that has greatly enhanced understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying immune dysregulation in HTLV-1-associated neuroinflammatory disease.
Le nouveau SME est-il plus asymétrique que l'ancien ?
Authors: Bordes Christian , Girardin Eric , Marimoutou Velayoudom
Published: August 2011

Is the New EMS More Asymmetric than the Old? by Christian Bordes, Éric Girardin and Velayoudom M arimoutou

The purpose of this paper is to make a new study of the asymmetric relations between the interest rates of the EMS member and the German interest rates. The approach is twofold. First, we select a formulation in terms of the response function of monetary authorities. In addition to the American rates, which explain the external influences on the EMS, the VAR model also includes the rates of inflation for an EMS member country and Germany. Secondly, we extend the estimation period to expansion of the margins and carry out stability tests to show that 1987 was a major break point. This break can be associated the relaxation of capital controls. Over these two sub-periods, the EMS appears as an asymmetric system due to the fact that influence of the German rate innovations on the forecasting errors for the other European rates is three times greater overall the influence in the reverse direction. The new EMS generally looks at least as asymmetric as the old and probably more so in French case.
L'impact de l'allocation chômage sur la probabilité de réemploi : de nouveaux résultats pour le Royaume Uni
Authors: Stancanelli Elena
Published: August 2011

Unemployment Duration and the Duration of Entitlement to Unemployment Benefit

by Elena Stancanelli

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of the level and the expected duration of employment benefits on the individual probability of leaving unemployment. The relation between the expected duration of unemployment benefit and the probability of leaving unemployment has recently attracted considerable attention. Still a limited number of empirical studies is available for European countries. The data used for the analysis relate to the UK. The probability of leaving unemployment to take up a full-time job is distinguished from the probability of exiting in other states. I conclude that although there is some evidence of spikes in the hazard rate near the time of expected benefit exhaustion, no statistically significant benefit exhaustion effect is found.
Estimations de lois de consommation sur un pseudo-panel d'enquêtes de l'Insee ( 1979,1984,1989)
Authors: Cardoso Nilton , Gardes François
Published: August 2011

Estimating Consumption Laws on a Pseudo-Panel of INSEE Surveys (1979, 1984 and 1989)

by Nilton Cardoso and François Gardes

Complete demand systems are generally estimated using aggregate time series due to the non-availability of panel data. These estimates are subject to aggregation biases when the specifications are nonlinear in the variables, to instable parameters over a long period and to the inability to estimate sub-population behaviour laws. We construct a pseudo-panel from three Insee family budget surveys by grouping households into homogenous cells to compare their averages on three different dates in accordance with Deaton's methodology (1985). We suggest technical improvements to deal with heteroscedasticity and the cell definition method. Two-thirds of the cross-sectional income elasticities estimated by a quadratic AI equation differ from the first-difference or within dimension estimated time series elasticities. This discrepancy may reflect the endogeny of the individual effects, which bias the cross-sectional elasticities. The social distribution of consumption, such as it is estimated by comparing rich and poor household consumption structures in a survey, can therefore not be used indiscriminately to forecast changes in consumption over time.
Estimation de modèles non linéaires sur données de panel par la méthode des moments généralisés
Authors: Breitung Jörg , Lechner Michael
Published: August 2011

GMM Estimation of Nonlinear Models on Panel Data by Jôrg Breitung and Michael Lechner

We show that the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) methodology is a useful tool to obtain the asymptotic properties of some existing estimators for non-linear panel data models as well as to construct new ones. Many non-linear panel data models imply conditional moments, which do not depend on parameters from the off-diagonal part of the intertemporal covariance matrix of the error terms. Methods based on these moments sacrifice some efficiency compared to FTML but are much easier to compute since they do not require multivariate integration. The pooled maximum likelihood estimator, the sequential ML estimator based on minimum distance estimation in the second step, and previously suggested alternative GMM estimators are based on these moments. Although the pooled ML estimator is asymptotically the least efficient of the estimators considered, the Monte Carlo study indicates that it may have good small sample properties. We use a low dimensional approximation of the optimal instrument matrix to obtain an estimator, which appeared to be nearly as efficient as FTML. However, GMM estimators are easier to compute and also posses desirable properties.
Emploi d'équilibre et formation des salaires : une étude sectorielle
Authors: Laffargue Jean-Pierre , L'Horty Yannick
Published: August 2011

Une estimation d'équations d'emploi et de salaire au niveau sectoriel sur données trimestrielles

par Jean-Pierre Laffargue et Yannick L'Horty-

Cet article estime deux équations de demande de travail et de fixation du coût du travail sur données trimestrielles françaises pour les différents secteurs marchands. Ces équations reposent sur un modèle théorique de concurrence monopolistique entre firmes et de négociation salariale entre entreprises et syndicats. Les méthodes d'estimation prennent en compte les développements récents de la théorie de la cointégration en univariée, et incluent de nombreux tests de spécification et de stabilité des coefficients. L'emploi apparaît fortement rigide et présente une élasticité négative par rapport au coût du travail. Celui-ci est assez flexible et augmente avec le taux de remplacement et le coin salarial, mais diminue avec la progressivité de celui-ci. Les effets du progrès technique et de la durée du travail sur ces deux variables sont aussi étudiés.
L'appariement des emplois vacants et du chômage en France
Authors: Maillard Martial
Published: August 2011

Matching Job Offers and Unemployment in France by Martial Maillard

This paper develops an econometric study of the matching process for job offers and the unemployed on the French labour market. An aggregate analysis is made considering the hiring of full-time employees on long-term contracts. It uses monthly data relating to the period from 1974 to mid-1992. The hypothesis of the constancy of the matching function's returns on scale is not rejected, while a decrease in the efficiency of the labour market's functioning since 1974 is observed.
Un modèle simple de zone monétaire optimale
Authors: Ricci Luca Antonio
Published: August 2011

Un modèle simple de zone monétaire optimale par Luca Antonio Ricci

Cet article présente un modèle à deux pays qui permet d'étudier dans quelles circonstances la participation à une zone monétaire est profitable. Nous tentons de rendre compte à la fois des arguments réels et monétaires suggérés par la littérature sur les zones monétaires optimales, dans un modèle simple de commerce international avec rigidités nominales. Les bénéfices nets qu'un pays peut espérer retirer de la participation à une union monétaire augmentent avec : la corrélation des chocs réels entre les pays ; le degré de mobilité internationale du travail ; l'efficacité de l'instrument fiscal comme variable d'ajustement ; la différence entre le biais inflationniste des autorités nationales et celui des autorités de l'Union monétaire ; la variance des chocs monétaires domestiques ; l'importance de la charge morte et des pertes d'efficience que l'adoption d'une monnaie unique permet d'éliminer. Ces mêmes bénéfices nets diminuent avec : la variance des chocs réels ; la variance des chocs monétaires étrangers ; la corrélation des chocs réels entre les pays. L'influence du degré d'ouverture sur les bénéfices nets de la participation à une union monétaire est ambiguë. Ce dernier résultat s'oppose à l'idée généralement avancée qu'une union monétaire serait d'autant plus avantageuse que les économies sont plus ouvertes sur l'extérieur.
Degré de flexibilité des marchés du travail, ajustement à des chocs asymétriques et union monétaire européenne
Authors: Erkel-Rousse Hélène
Published: August 2011

Labour Market Flexibility, Adjustment to Asymmetric Shocks and European Monetary Union

by Hélène Erkel-Rousse

In 1961, Mundell posited that regions would have no major problems adjusting to monetary union provided that the shocks they sustained were not very asymmetric and their labour markets were sufficiently flexible. The European Union does not appear to perfectly satisfy these two conditions and the member countries could consequently have problems adjusting to monetary union. However, Mundell's claim should not be taken at face value. First of all, labour market flexibility is just one adjustment element among others. Secondly, the importance accorded to the extent of shock asymmetry is moderated by the fact that the manipulation of exchange rates is not as easy and beneficial as Mundell suggests.
Politiques de redistribution décentralisées et concurrence sociale
Authors: Rocaboy Yvon
Published: August 2011

Decentralized Redistributive Policies and Social Competition by Yvon Rocaboy

The purpose of the paper is to study the possibility of decentralising the redistributive income function. This question is examined in the light of microeconomic fiscal competition theory. We suppose that the redistributive function is assigned to local authorities belonging to a common labour pool in which labour is perfectly mobile. The local authorities can then compete to alter the distribution of labour using their redistributive policy. Thiscompetition is called "social competition"." We show that this kind of competition is rarely Pareto efficient. This conclusion argues in favour of the creation of a "central bureau of redistribution" responsible for this function at the highest government level.
Le potentiel de croissance du commerce des pays d'Europe centrale et orientale avec la France et ses principaux partenaires
Authors: Festoc Frédérique
Published: August 2011

Potential Growth in Central and East European Countries' Trade with France and its Leading Partners

by Frédérique Festoc

In this paper, we propose a study of the growth in trade between the European Union and the CEECs since the start of the transition. Our study focuses on the CEECs' leading EU partners and examines the breakdown of this trade by sector. We then endeavour to determine the growth potential for trade between the EU and the CEECs using gravitation models to measure the effects CEEC trade deregulation. We thus show that the European Union has rapidly become the leading trading partner for Central and East European Countries. Moreover, the results of our estimation show that the EU is likely to remain in this position. Lastly, we address the question of direct foreign investment flows.
Genetic consequences of seed banks in the perennial herb Arabidopsis lyrata subsp. petraea (Brassicaceae)
Authors: Falahati‐Anbaran Mohsen , Lundemo Sverre , Ågren Jon , Stenøien Hans K.
Published: August 2011

• Premise of the Study: Seed banks may increase the effective population size (Ne) of plants as a result of elevated coalescence times for alleles residing in the populations. This has been empirically demonstrated in populations of the annual Arabidopsis thaliana, whereas comparable data for perennial species are currently lacking. We studied the contribution of seed banks to effective sizes of natural populations of the self‐incompatible, perennial Arabidopsis lyrata subsp. petraea, a close relative of A. thaliana.

• Methods: Fourteen populations of A. lyrata collected throughout the Norwegian distribution range were analyzed using microsatellite markers.

• Key Results: The genetic composition of seed‐bank and aboveground cohorts was found to be highly similar, with little genetic differentiation between cohorts in most populations. However, the proportion of private alleles was higher in aboveground than in seed‐bank cohorts. The presence of seed banks significantly increased total Ne, but the contribution from seed banks to overall Ne were lower than the contribution from aboveground cohorts in most populations. Estimated historical Ne values, reflecting the effective sizes of populations throughout the history of the species, were considerably higher than estimates of contemporary Ne, reflecting number of reproducing individuals within the past few generations.

• Conclusions: The results show that the seed bank contributes to total Ne in the perennial herb A. lyrata. However, the contribution is similar to or lower than that of the above‐ground fraction of the population and markedly weaker than that previously documented in the annual A. thaliana.
La mise en place de la législation européenne REACH
Authors: Béal Sylvain , Deschamps Marc , Ravix Joël Thomas , Sautel Olivier
Published: August 2011

Résumé La réglementation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Autorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) entrée en vigueur le 1 er juin 2007 contraint les entreprises à faire la preuve de l’innocuité sanitaire et environnementale des substances utilisées. L’implémentation de cette réglementation nécessite la production et l’échange d’un volume substantiel d’information technique et concurrentielle. Cet article vise à identifier les risques anticoncurrentiels liés à la mise en place de la réglementation. Les acteurs pourraient mettre en place une pénurie stratégique d’information, destinée à forclore les concurrents du processus de partage des coûts, ou au contraire organiser une abondance stratégique d’information, dans une visée d’ententes ou de stratégie d’augmentation des coûts des rivaux.
Providing and Approving: What’s the Difference?
Authors: Dickerson Pamela S.
Published: August 2011

The American Nurses Credentialing Center Accreditation Program accredits both providers and approvers of continuing nursing education. At times, there has been confusion about the differences between providers and approvers and the role of each. This column explains those differences.
Breaking News: Implementing Fun Methods for Keeping Nurses Informed
Authors: Bradley M. Kathleen , Kisling N. Ellen , Findlay Will
Published: August 2011

This column describes an innovative technique for keeping direct care nurses up-to-date.
Mechanical Versus Alcohol-assisted Epithelial Debridement During Photorefractive Keratectomy: A Confocal Microscopic Clinical Trial
Authors: Einollahi Bahram , Baradaran-Rafii Alireza , Rezaei-Kanavi Mozhgan , Eslani Medi , Parchegani Mohammad-Reza , Zare Mohammad , Feizi Sepehr , Karimian Farid
Published: August 2011

PURPOSE:

To compare the effects of mechanical versus alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement on corneal cellular elements after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using confocal microscopy.

METHODS:

This randomized, clinical trial included 66 eyes from 33 patients with spherical equivalent refraction <−4.00 diopters (D). Mechanical versus alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement was performed during PRK. The right eye of each patient was randomly assigned to one group (mechanical group or alcohol-assisted group) and the fellow eye to the alternate group. Confocal examination was performed preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Main outcome measures were keratocyte density and maximum anterior stromal light reflectivity.

RESULTS:

Mean epithelial healing time was 3.2±0.4 and 3.0±0.3 days in the mechanical and alcohol-assisted groups, respectively (
P
=.001). Anterior retroablation stromal keratocyte density was 704.3±119.9 cells/mm
2
and 734.3±103.7 cells/mm
2
at 3 months (
P
=.05) and 643.8±134.4 cells/mm
2
and 696.7±129.6 cells/mm
2
at 6 months (
P
=.02) in the mechanical and alcohol-assisted groups, respectively. No significant difference was noted in midstromal and posterior keratocyte density between the two groups. Maximum reflectivity was 61.56±12.64 international units (IU) and 56.93±7.86 IU in the mechanical and alcohol-assisted groups, respectively, 3 months after surgery (
P
=.018). Corresponding values were 49.46±4.97 IU and 48.98±4.60 IU, respectively, 6 months after surgery (
P
=.628).

CONCLUSIONS:

Due to more adverse effects of mechanical epithelial debridement on anterior keratocyte density and anterior stromal reflectivity, alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement is recommended as the procedure of choice for epithelial removal during PRK in patients with mild myopia.
Transgenic Eimeria tenella Expressing Enhanced Yellow Fluorescent Protein Targeted to Different Cellular Compartments Stimulated Dichotomic Immune Responses in Chickens
Authors: Huang Xiaoxi , Zou Jun , Xu Hanqian , Ding Ye , Yin Guangwen , Liu Xianyong , Suo Xun
Published: August 2011

Eimeria tenella, one of the seven species of chicken coccidia, elicits protective immunity against challenge infection with both homologous and heterologous strains. We endeavor to use recombinant E. tenella as a vaccine vehicle for expressing and delivering pathogen Ags and investigate immune responses against these foreign Ags. In this study, two lines of transgenic E. tenella expressing a model Ag, enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP), targeted to the micronemes and to the cytoplasm of the recombinant parasites were constructed to study the impact of Ag compartmentalization on immunogenicity. The MTT assay, intracellular cytokine staining, and real-time PCR were performed to detect the EYFP-specific proliferation and effector functions of splenic lymphocytes of immunized chickens. ELISA was used to measure anti-EYFP IgG and IgA responses. The results showed that both lines of transgenic parasites stimulated EYFP-specific lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-γ expression in CD4 and CD8 T cells, whereas a higher level of Ag-specific lymphocyte proliferation was elicited by the transgenic line expressing microneme-targeted EYFP. Furthermore, this line stimulated stronger IgA response than the one expressing cytoplasm-targeted EYFP after the second immunization. Our findings are encouraging for further investigation of the effect of Ag compartmentalization in transgenic Eimeria on immunogenicity and for the development of a eukaryotic vaccine vector using genetically modified Apicomplexa parasites.
Cancer Immunoediting of the NK Group 2D Ligand H60a
Authors: O’Sullivan Timothy , Dunn Gavin P. , Lacoursiere Daphne Y. , Schreiber Robert D. , Bui Jack D.
Published: August 2011

Cancer immunoediting describes the process whereby highly immunogenic tumor cells are removed, or edited, from the primary tumor repertoire by the immune system. In immunodeficient mice, the editing process is hampered, and “unedited” tumor cells can be recovered and studied. In this study, we compared unedited and edited tumors for their expression of NK group 2D (NKG2D) ligands, a family of surface proteins expressed on tumor cells that can activate NK cell cytotoxic activity. We found that the expression of the NKG2D ligand H60a was more heterogeneous in groups of unedited 3′-methylcholanthrene sarcoma cell lines compared with that in edited 3′-methylcholanthrene sarcoma cell lines (i.e., some unedited cell lines expressed very high levels of H60a, whereas other unedited and edited cell lines expressed very low levels). We also found that some highly immunogenic cell lines displayed a bimodal distribution consisting of H60a-hi and H60a-lo cells. In one of these cell lines, the H60a-hi cells could be removed by passaging the cells through RAG2−/− mice, resulting in edited cell lines that were poor targets for NK cells and that displayed progressive tumor growth. This editing of H60a-hi cells required NK cells and NKG2D. Our studies show that the expression of H60a on tumors cells can be actively modulated by the immune system, thereby implicating this NKG2D ligand in tumor immunosurveillance.
TCR-Induced Activation of LFA-1 Involves Signaling through Tiam1
Authors: Grönholm Mikaela , Jahan Farhana , Marchesan Silvia , Karvonen Ulla , Aatonen Maria , Narumanchi Suneeta , Gahmberg Carl G.
Published: August 2011

Adhesion is pivotal for most leukocyte functions, and the β2 integrin family of adhesion molecules plays a central role. The integrins need activation to become functional, but the molecular events resulting in adhesion have remained incompletely understood. In human T cells, activation through the TCR results in specific phosphorylation of the T758 on the β2 chain of LFA-1. We now show that this phosphorylation leads to downstream binding of 14-3-3 proteins, followed by engagement of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor protein Tiam1 and Rac1 activation. Downregulation of the signaling molecules inhibits LFA-1 activity. Activation by the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1α also results in T758 phosphorylation and integrin activation. Thus, TCR and chemokine activation converges on LFA-1 phosphorylation, followed by similar downstream events affecting adhesion.
IONS: Identification of Orthologs by Neighborhood and Similarity—an Automated Method to Identify Orthologs in Chromosomal Regions of Common Evolutionary Ancestry and its Application to Hemiascomycetous Yeasts
Authors: Seret Marie-Line , Baret Philippe V.
Published: August 2011

Comparative sequence analysis is widely used to infer gene function and study genome evolution and requires proper ortholog identification across different genomes. We have developed a program for the Identification of Orthologs in one-to-one relationship by Neighborhood and Similarity (IONS) between closely related species. The algorithm combines two levels of evidence to determine co-ancestrality at the genome scale: sequence similarity and shared neighborhood. The method was initially designed to provide anchor points for syntenic blocks within the Génolevures project concerning nine hemiascomycetous yeasts (about 50,000 genes) and is applicable to different input databases. Comparison based on use of a Rand index shows that the results are highly consistent with the pillars of the Yeast Gene Order Browser, a manually curated database. Compared with SYNERGY, another algorithm reporting homology relationships, our method's main advantages are its automation and the absence of dataset-dependent parameters, facilitating consistent integration of newly released genomes.
Classic and Mirabolic Robinson–Schensted–Knuth Correspondence for Partial Flags
Authors: Rosso Daniele
Published: August 2011

In this paper we first generalize to the case of partial flags a result proved both by Spaltenstein and by Steinberg that relates the relative position of two complete flags and the irreducible components of the flag variety in which they lie, using the Robinson-Schensted-Knuth correspondence. Then we use this result to generalize the mirabolic Robinson-Schensted-Knuth correspondence defined by Travkin, to the case of two partial flags and a line.
Heterogeneous ice nucleation: exploring the transition from stochastic to singular freezing behavior
Authors: Niedermeier D. , Shaw R. A. , Hartmann S. , Wex H. , Clauss T. , Voigtländer J. , Stratmann F.
Published: August 2011

Abstract. Heterogeneous ice nucleation, a primary pathway for ice formation in the atmosphere, has been described alternately as being stochastic, in direct analogy with homogeneous nucleation, or singular, with ice nuclei initiating freezing at deterministic temperatures. We present an idealized, conceptual model to explore the transition between stochastic and singular ice nucleation. This "soccer ball" model treats particles as being covered with surface sites (patches of finite area) characterized by different nucleation barriers, but with each surface site following the stochastic nature of ice embryo formation. The model provides a phenomenological explanation for seemingly contradictory experimental results obtained in our research groups. Even with ice nucleation treated fundamentally as a stochastic process this process can be masked by the heterogeneity of surface properties, as might be typical for realistic atmospheric particle populations. Full evaluation of the model findings will require experiments with well characterized ice nucleating particles and the ability to vary both temperature and waiting time for freezing.