bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Src1 is a Protein of the Inner Nuclear Membrane Interacting with the Dictyostelium Lamin NE81
Authors: Batsios Petros , Ren Xiang , Baumann Otto , Larochelle Denis , Gräf Ralph
Published: March 2016

The nuclear envelope (NE) consists of the outer and inner nuclear membrane (INM), whereby the latter is bound to the nuclear lamina. Src1 is a Dictyostelium homologue of the helix-extension-helix family of proteins, which also includes the human lamin-binding protein MAN1. Both endogenous Src1 and GFP-Src1 are localized to the NE during the entire cell cycle. Immuno-electron microscopy and light microscopy after differential detergent treatment indicated that Src1 resides in the INM. FRAP experiments with GFP-Src1 cells suggested that at least a fraction of the protein could be stably engaged in forming the nuclear lamina together with the Dictyostelium lamin NE81. Both a BioID proximity assay and mis-localization of soluble, truncated mRFP-Src1 at cytosolic clusters consisting of an intentionally mis-localized mutant of GFP-NE81 confirmed an interaction of Src1 and NE81. Expression GFP-Src11–646, a fragment C-terminally truncated after the first transmembrane domain, disrupted interaction of nuclear membranes with the nuclear lamina, as cells formed protrusions of the NE that were dependent on cytoskeletal pulling forces. Protrusions were dependent on intact microtubules but not actin filaments. Our results indicate that Src1 is required for integrity of the NE and highlight Dictyostelium as a promising model for the evolution of nuclear architecture.
Non-Covalent Interactions in Hydrogen Storage Materials LiN(CH3)2BH3 and KN(CH3)2BH3
Authors: Sagan Filip , Filas Radosław , Mitoraj Mariusz
Published: March 2016

In the present work, an in-depth, qualitative and quantitative description of non-covalent interactions in the hydrogen storage materials LiN(CH3)2BH3 and KN(CH3)2BH3 was performed by means of the charge and energy decomposition method (ETS-NOCV) as well as the Interacting Quantum Atoms (IQA) approach. It was determined that both crystals are stabilized by electrostatically dominated intra- and intermolecular M∙∙∙H–B interactions (M = Li, K). For LiN(CH3)2BH3 the intramolecular charge transfer appeared (B–H→Li) to be more pronounced compared with the corresponding intermolecular contribution. We clarified for the first time, based on the ETS-NOCV and IQA methods, that homopolar BH∙∙∙HB interactions in LiN(CH3)2BH3 can be considered as destabilizing (due to the dominance of repulsion caused by negatively charged borane units), despite the fact that some charge delocalization within BH∙∙∙HB contacts is enforced (which explains H∙∙∙H bond critical points found from the QTAIM method). Interestingly, quite similar (to BH∙∙∙HB) intermolecular homopolar dihydrogen bonds CH∙∙∙HC appared to significantly stabilize both crystals—the ETS-NOCV scheme allowed us to conclude that CH∙∙∙HC interactions are dispersion dominated, however, the electrostatic and σ/σ*(C–H) charge transfer contributions are also important. These interactions appeared to be more pronounced in KN(CH3)2BH3 compared with LiN(CH3)2BH3.
A Multi-Objective Optimization Framework for Offshore Wind Farm Layouts and Electric Infrastructures
Authors: Rodrigues Silvio , Restrepo Carlos , Katsouris George , Teixeira Pinto Rodrigo , Soleimanzadeh Maryam , Bosman Peter , Bauer Pavol
Published: March 2016

Current offshore wind farms (OWFs) design processes are based on a sequential approach which does not guarantee system optimality because it oversimplifies the problem by discarding important interdependencies between design aspects. This article presents a framework to integrate, automate and optimize the design of OWF layouts and the respective electrical infrastructures. The proposed framework optimizes simultaneously different goals (e.g., annual energy delivered and investment cost) which leads to efficient trade-offs during the design phase, e.g., reduction of wake losses vs collection system length. Furthermore, the proposed framework is independent of economic assumptions, meaning that no a priori values such as the interest rate or energy price, are needed. The proposed framework was applied to the Dutch Borssele areas I and II. A wide range of OWF layouts were obtained through the optimization framework. OWFs with similar energy production and investment cost as layouts designed with standard sequential strategies were obtained through the framework, meaning that the proposed framework has the capability to create different OWF layouts that would have been missed by the designers. In conclusion, the proposed multi-objective optimization framework represents a mind shift in design tools for OWFs which allows cost savings in the design and operation phases.
Modeling and Control of the Distributed Power Converters in a Standalone DC Microgrid
Authors: Lu Xiaodong , Wan Jiangwen
Published: March 2016

A standalone DC microgrid integrated with distributed renewable energy sources, energy storage devices and loads is analyzed. To mitigate the interaction among distributed power modules, this paper describes a modeling and control design procedure for the distributed converters. The system configuration and steady-state analysis of the standalone DC microgrid under study are discussed first. The dynamic models of the distributed converters are then developed from two aspects corresponding to their two operating modes, device-regulating mode and bus-regulating mode. Average current mode control and linear compensators are designed accordingly for each operating mode. The stability of the designed system is analyzed at last. The operation and control design of the system are verified by simulation results.
Consumer Perception of Environmental Harm and Willingness to Pay Environmental Handling Fees
Authors: Lakhan Calvin
Published: March 2016

This study undertook a critical examination of the relationship between perception of environmental harm and consumer willingness to pay for environmental handling fees (EHF). This analysis was supplemented by asking study participants to indicate under what circumstances (and for what materials) they believe a visible fee is appropriate. This study found that there is a statistically significant correlation between willingness to pay environmental handling fees and the perceived environmental harm of the product on which the fee is applied. For items that respondents viewed as “innocuous to the environment” (i.e., “keyboards and mice”), they were relatively unwilling to pay an environmental handling fee. Conversely, for the full range of hazardous waste materials, consumers expressed a willingness to pay EHFs. With respect to fee visibility, respondents indicated that they preferred visible fees (at the sticker) for products that they perceived to be dangerous. There is a strong correlation between perceived environmental harm and whether fees should be visible. Consumers are not necessarily averse to paying an eco fee on products (be they hazardous waste, electronic waste, etc.), but their willingness to do so is almost entirely a function of whether they believe the product is environmentally burdensome. It is the recommendation of this study that promotion and education campaigns for environmental handling fees, particularly those surrounding waste electronics, place greater emphasis on environmental consequences of improper disposal.
Heat Transfer and Dissipation Effects in the Flow of a Drilling Fluid
Authors: Wu Wei-Tao , Massoudi Mehrdad
Published: March 2016

In this paper we study the effects of dissipation in the Couette flow and heat transfer in a drilling fluid, and explore the effects of concentration and the shear-rate and temperature-dependent viscosity, along with a variable thermal conductivity. A brief discussion on the constitutive relations for the stress tensor, the diffusive particle flux vector, and the heat flux vector is presented. The one-dimensional forms of the governing equations are solved numerically and the results are presented through a parametric study by varying the dimensionless numbers.
Identification and Characterization of the Gene CYP340W1 from Plutella xylostella and Its Possible Involvement in Resistance to Abamectin
Authors: Gao Xue , Yang Jiaqiang , Xu Baoyun , Xie Wen , Wang Shaoli , Zhang Youjun , Yang Fengshan , Wu Qingjun
Published: March 2016

Abamectin has been used to control the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (P. xylostella), which is a major agricultural pest that can rapidly develop resistance against insecticides including abamectin. Although cytochrome P450 has been confirmed to play an important role in resistance in P. xylostella, the specific P450 genes associated with the resistance are unclear. The full-length cDNA of the cytochrome P450 gene CYP340W1 was cloned and characterized in the present study. The cDNA assembly yielded a sequence of 1929 bp, containing the open reading frame (ORF) 1491 bp and encodes a 496-amino acid peptide. CYP340W1 was expressed in all P. xylostella developmental stages but its expression level was highest in larvae and especially in the heads of larvae. The expression of CYP340W1 was significantly higher in an abamectin-resistant strain (ABM-R) than in its susceptible counterpart (ABM-S). In addition, expression of CYP340W1 was increased when the ABM-R strain was exposed to abamectin. When injected into third-stage ABM-R larvae, CYP340W1 dsRNA significantly reduced CYP340W1 expression at 6 h and reduced expression by 83% at 12 h. As a consequence of RNAi, the mortality of the injected abamectin-resistant larvae increased after a 48-h exposure to abamectin. The results indicate that the overexpression of CYP340W1 plays an important role in abamectin resistance in P. xylostella.
MicroRNA Expression during Bovine Oocyte Maturation and Fertilization
Authors: Gilchrist Graham , Tscherner Allison , Nalpathamkalam Thomas , Merico Daniele , LaMarre Jonathan
Published: March 2016

Successful fertilization and subsequent embryo development rely on complex molecular processes starting with the development of oocyte competence through maturation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that function as gene regulators in many biological systems, including the oocyte and embryo. In order to further explore the roles of miRNAs in oocyte maturation, we employed small RNA sequencing as a screening tool to identify and characterize miRNA populations present in pools of bovine germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes, metaphase II (MII) oocytes, and presumptive zygotes (PZ). Each stage contained a defined miRNA population, some of which showed stable expression while others showed progressive changes between stages that were subsequently confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Bta-miR-155, bta-miR-222, bta-miR-21, bta-let-7d, bta-let-7i, and bta-miR-190a were among the statistically significant differentially expressed miRNAs (p < 0.05). To determine whether changes in specific primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) transcripts were responsible for the observed miRNA changes, we evaluated pri-miR-155, -222 and let-7d expression. Pri-miR-155 and -222 were not detected in GV oocytes but pri-miR-155 was present in MII oocytes, indicating transcription during maturation. In contrast, levels of pri-let-7d decreased during maturation, suggesting that the observed increase in let-7d expression was likely due to processing of the primary transcript. This study demonstrates that both dynamic and stable populations of miRNAs are present in bovine oocytes and zygotes and extend previous studies supporting the importance of the small RNA landscape in the maturing bovine oocyte and early embryo.
The Role of KV7.3 in Regulating Osteoblast Maturation and Mineralization
Authors: Yang Ji , Song Min , Shen Yiming , Ryu Pan , Lee So
Published: March 2016

KCNQ (KV7) channels are voltage-gated potassium (KV) channels, and the function of KV7 channels in muscles, neurons, and sensory cells is well established. We confirmed that overall blockade of KV channels with tetraethylammonium augmented the mineralization of bone-marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells during osteogenic differentiation, and we determined that KV7.3 was expressed in MG-63 and Saos-2 cells at the mRNA and protein levels. In addition, functional KV7 currents were detected in MG-63 cells. Inhibition of KV7.3 by linopirdine or XE991 increased the matrix mineralization during osteoblast differentiation. This was confirmed by alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and osterix in MG-63 cells, whereas the expression of Runx2 showed no significant change. The extracellular glutamate secreted by osteoblasts was also measured to investigate its effect on MG-63 osteoblast differentiation. Blockade of KV7.3 promoted the release of glutamate via the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2-mediated upregulation of synapsin, and induced the deposition of type 1 collagen. However, activation of KV7.3 by flupirtine did not produce notable changes in matrix mineralization during osteoblast differentiation. These results suggest that KV7.3 could be a novel regulator in osteoblast differentiation.
Photoassisted Electrochemical Treatment of Azo and Phtalocyanine Reactive Dyes in the Presence of Surfactants
Authors: Sala Mireia , López-Grimau Víctor , Gutiérrez-Bouzán Carmen
Published: March 2016

An electrochemical treatment (EC) was applied at different intensities to degrade the chromophoric groups of dyes C.I. Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and C.I. Reactive Blue 7 (Rb7) until uncolored species were obtained. Decolorization rate constants of the azo dye RB5 were higher than the phtalocyanine Rb7 ones. In addition, the EC treatment was more efficient at higher intensities, but these conditions significantly increased the generation of undesirable by-products such as chloroform. The combination of EC with UV irradiation (UVEC) drastically minimized the generation of chloroform. The photo-assisted electrochemical treatment was also able to achieve decolorization values of 99%. Finally, mixtures of dyes and surfactants were treated by EC and UVEC. In the presence of surfactants, the decolorization kinetic of dyes was slowed due to the competitive reactions of surfactants degradation. Both methods achieved total decolorization and in both cases, the generation of haloforms was negligible.
Polystyrene-co-Divinylbenzene PolyHIPE Monoliths in 1.0 mm Column Formats for Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Choudhury Sidratul , Fitzhenry Laurence , White Blánaid , Connolly Damian
Published: March 2016

The reversed phase liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) separation of small molecules using a polystyrene-co-divinylbenzene (PS-co-DVB) polyHIPE stationary phases housed within 1.0 mm i.d. silcosteel columns is presented within this study. A 90% PS-co-DVB polyHIPE was covalently attached to the walls of the column housing by prior wall modification with 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate and could withstand operating backpressures in excess of 200 bar at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min. Permeability studies revealed that the monolith swelled slightly in 100% acetonitrile relative to 100% water but could nevertheless be used to separate five alkylbenzenes using a flow rate of 40 µL/min (linear velocity: 0.57 mm/s). Remarkable column-to-column reproducibility is shown with retention factor variation between 2.6% and 6.1% for two separately prepared columns.
Production of Fusaric Acid by Fusarium spp. in Pure Culture and in Solid Medium Co-Cultures
Authors: Bohni Nadine , Hofstetter Valérie , Gindro Katia , Buyck Bart , Schumpp Olivier , Bertrand Samuel , Monod Michel , Wolfender Jean-Luc
Published: March 2016

The ability of fungi isolated from nails of patients suffering from onychomycosis to induce de novo production of bioactive compounds in co-culture was examined. Comparison between the metabolite profiles produced by Sarocladium strictum, by Fusarium oxysporum, and by these two species in co-culture revealed de novo induction of fusaric acid based on HRMS. Structure confirmation of this toxin, using sensitive microflow NMR, required only three 9-cm Petri dishes of fungal culture. A targeted metabolomics study based on UHPLC-HRMS confirmed that the production of fusaric acid was strain-dependent. Furthermore, the detected toxin levels suggested that onychomycosis-associated fungal strains of the F. oxysporum and F. fujikuroi species complexes are much more frequently producing fusaric acid, and in higher amount, than strains of the F. solani species complex. Fusarium strains producing no significant amounts of this compound in pure culture, were shown to de novo produce that compound when grown in co-culture. The role of fusaric acid in fungal virulence and defense is discussed.
The Impacts of Attitudes and Engagement on Electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM) of Mobile Sensor Computing Applications
Authors: Zhao Yu , Liu Yide , Lai Ivan , Zhang Hongfeng , Zhang Yi
Published: March 2016

As one of the latest revolutions in networking technology, social networks allow users to keep connected and exchange information. Driven by the rapid wireless technology development and diffusion of mobile devices, social networks experienced a tremendous change based on mobile sensor computing. More and more mobile sensor network applications have appeared with the emergence of a huge amount of users. Therefore, an in-depth discussion on the human–computer interaction (HCI) issues of mobile sensor computing is required. The target of this study is to extend the discussions on HCI by examining the relationships of users’ compound attitudes (i.e., affective attitudes, cognitive attitude), engagement and electronic word of mouth (eWOM) behaviors in the context of mobile sensor computing. A conceptual model is developed, based on which, 313 valid questionnaires are collected. The research discusses the level of impact on the eWOM of mobile sensor computing by considering user-technology issues, including the compound attitude and engagement, which can bring valuable discussions on the HCI of mobile sensor computing in further study. Besides, we find that user engagement plays a mediating role between the user’s compound attitudes and eWOM. The research result can also help the mobile sensor computing industry to develop effective strategies and build strong consumer user—product (brand) relationships.
Scene-Level Geographic Image Classification Based on a Covariance Descriptor Using Supervised Collaborative Kernel Coding
Authors: Yang Chunwei , Liu Huaping , Wang Shicheng , Liao Shouyi
Published: March 2016

Scene-level geographic image classification has been a very challenging problem and has become a research focus in recent years. This paper develops a supervised collaborative kernel coding method based on a covariance descriptor (covd) for scene-level geographic image classification. First, covd is introduced in the feature extraction process and, then, is transformed to a Euclidean feature by a supervised collaborative kernel coding model. Furthermore, we develop an iterative optimization framework to solve this model. Comprehensive evaluations on public high-resolution aerial image dataset and comparisons with state-of-the-art methods show the superiority and effectiveness of our approach.
Fusion of Haptic and Gesture Sensors for Rehabilitation of Bimanual Coordination and Dexterous Manipulation
Authors: Yu Ningbo , Xu Chang , Li Huanshuai , Wang Kui , Wang Liancheng , Liu Jingtai
Published: March 2016

Disabilities after neural injury, such as stroke, bring tremendous burden to patients, families and society. Besides the conventional constrained-induced training with a paretic arm, bilateral rehabilitation training involves both the ipsilateral and contralateral sides of the neural injury, fitting well with the fact that both arms are needed in common activities of daily living (ADLs), and can promote good functional recovery. In this work, the fusion of a gesture sensor and a haptic sensor with force feedback capabilities has enabled a bilateral rehabilitation training therapy. The Leap Motion gesture sensor detects the motion of the healthy hand, and the omega.7 device can detect and assist the paretic hand, according to the designed cooperative task paradigm, as much as needed, with active force feedback to accomplish the manipulation task. A virtual scenario has been built up, and the motion and force data facilitate instantaneous visual and audio feedback, as well as further analysis of the functional capabilities of the patient. This task-oriented bimanual training paradigm recruits the sensory, motor and cognitive aspects of the patient into one loop, encourages the active involvement of the patients into rehabilitation training, strengthens the cooperation of both the healthy and impaired hands, challenges the dexterous manipulation capability of the paretic hand, suits easy of use at home or centralized institutions and, thus, promises effective potentials for rehabilitation training.
A Novel Robust H∞ Filter Based on Krein Space Theory in the SINS/CNS Attitude Reference System
Authors: Yu Fei , Lv Chongyang , Dong Qianhui
Published: March 2016

Owing to their numerous merits, such as compact, autonomous and independence, the strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) and celestial navigation system (CNS) can be used in marine applications. What is more, due to the complementary navigation information obtained from two different kinds of sensors, the accuracy of the SINS/CNS integrated navigation system can be enhanced availably. Thus, the SINS/CNS system is widely used in the marine navigation field. However, the CNS is easily interfered with by the surroundings, which will lead to the output being discontinuous. Thus, the uncertainty problem caused by the lost measurement will reduce the system accuracy. In this paper, a robust H∞ filter based on the Krein space theory is proposed. The Krein space theory is introduced firstly, and then, the linear state and observation models of the SINS/CNS integrated navigation system are established reasonably. By taking the uncertainty problem into account, in this paper, a new robust H∞ filter is proposed to improve the robustness of the integrated system. At last, this new robust filter based on the Krein space theory is estimated by numerical simulations and actual experiments. Additionally, the simulation and experiment results and analysis show that the attitude errors can be reduced by utilizing the proposed robust filter effectively when the measurements are missing discontinuous. Compared to the traditional Kalman filter (KF) method, the accuracy of the SINS/CNS integrated system is improved, verifying the robustness and the availability of the proposed robust H∞ filter.
Sustainable Urban Development Capacity Measure—A Case Study in Jiangsu Province, China
Authors: Liang Xuedong , Zhang Weiwei , Chen Lei , Deng Fumin
Published: March 2016

Measuring the success of sustainable urban development has been difficult in the past. However, as this has become more important in the past few years, this paper develops an innovative sustainable urban development capacity measurement model based on principal component analysis (PCA) and Grey TOPSIS methodology, which has a significantly more comprehensive measurement, and reduces processing time and calculation difficulty. First, PCA is used to extract the main components that affect a city’s sustainable development capacity. Then, the actual sustainable development capacity level is measured using Grey TOPSIS, from which the sustainable development capacity measurement value is then calculated. To prove the model’s effectiveness and operability, it is then applied to measure the sustainable development capacity in 13 cities in Jiangsu province, China.
Discovery of Novel Alphacoronaviruses in European Rodents and Shrews
Authors: Tsoleridis Theocharis , Onianwa Okechukwu , Horncastle Emma , Dayman Emma , Zhu Miaoran , Danjittrong Taechasit , Wachtl Marta , Behnke Jerzy , Chapman Sarah , Strong Victoria , Dobbs Phillipa , Ball Jonathan , Tarlinton Rachael , McClure C.
Published: March 2016

Eight hundred and thirteen European rodents and shrews encompassing seven different species were screened for alphacoronaviruses using PCR detection. Novel alphacoronaviruses were detected in the species Rattus norvegicus, Microtus agrestis, Sorex araneus and Myodes glareolus. These, together with the recently described Lucheng virus found in China, form a distinct rodent/shrew-specific clade within the coronavirus phylogeny. Across a highly conserved region of the viral polymerase gene, the new members of this clade were up to 22% dissimilar at the nucleotide level to the previously described Lucheng virus. As such they might represent distinct species of alphacoronaviruses. These data greatly extend our knowledge of wildlife reservoirs of alphacoronaviruses.
Les crises démographiques dans le Sud de la région parisienne de 1560 à 1670
Authors: Moriceau Jean-Marc
Published: March 2016

Cette étude démographique repose sur un ensemble de 36 paroisses — 20 milliers d'âmes, peut-être, vers 1635 — comprises entre Paris, Corbeil et Montlhéry ; l'une d'entre elles, Athis (Athis-Mons aujourd'hui) a autorisé une reconstitution des familles, surtout vigneronnes, qui s'y sont formées de 1560 à 1670.

L'évolution démographique reste commandée, d'un siècle à l'autre, par le flux des générations, pleines (1565-1590 ; 1630-1670) ou creuses (1590-1630 ; 1675-1700) : il porte l'héritage, à long terme, de crises de mortalité souvent très dures (déficit de 20 % pendant la Fronde) causées par de violentes épidémies — la peste surtout. Dès l'accouchement, la mort intervient : 3 % de mortalité maternelle, 3 % d'ondoyés-décédés.

Les comportements humains soulignent la profondeur de la christianisation : calendrier classique des conceptions et des mariages ; stabilité des prénoms, transmis, dans le culte des saints, de parrain à filleul ; respect très grand de la morale conjugale — 0,3 % de naissances illégitimes, 5,2 % de conceptions prénuptiales — autant d'indices qui ne trompent pas mais qui n'étonnent pas. La lutte menée par la Réforme catholique contre les mentalités païennes s'illustre, ici, par la disparition des noces dominicales et des fiançailles et, peut-être, par l'élévation de l'âge moyen des femmes au mariage de 20 à 25 ans, au cours de la 1re moitié du XVIIe siècle.

Contre toute attente, cette apparition du mariage tardif stimule d'abord la fécondité, ce qui accroît, légèrement, la dimension de la famille (entre 4 et 5 enfants), malgré une vie conjugale toujours brève (moins de 14 ans). Si la stabilité s'affirme, ce monde, si soumis aux caprices de la nature et aux exigences de ses maîtres, notables parisiens, bouge, timidement : la résidence dans le village natal n'est pas la règle pour 60 % des hommes et 40 % des femmes, sur Athis. Entre la naissance — toujours aussi incontrôlée — et la mort — toujours aussi impromptue, le mariage traduit un premier effort de l'homme pour maîtriser son destin.
Les opérations statistiques de collecte de données démographiques dans l'Afrique noire coloniale
Authors: Gendreau Francis
Published: March 2016

The aim of this paper is to give an overall view of the statistical operations used for collecting demographic data in sub-Saharan Africa during colonial times.

The «statistical operations» considered hère, as opposed to the purely administrative procédures, consist of : censuses with complète population coverage and sample surveys ; operations at the national and local levels ; operations with strictly demographic targets and others primarily intended for other purposes but also yielding certain demographic data (population size, structure, change).

Roughly 100 national operations (two thirds censuses, a third surveys) have been identified for the 46 countries reviewed. Two thirds of them were conducted between 1947 and 1966, in the very last years of the colonial era.

The quality of the results yielded by these operations may be open to discussion, but demographically speaking, they are of considérable historical interest, as they are the first results obtained through scientific procedures for a key period in African history.
Le fonctionnement de la famille-souche dans les Baronnies des Pyrénées avant 1914
Authors: Chamoux Antoinette
Published: March 2016

On studying the rural society of the Central Pyrenean region, using the histories of families in the village of Esparros, reconstituted from the 17th century up to 1914, it would appear that an attempt was made to escape from population pressure at the end of the Ancien Regime, by using a spécifie type of Malthusian check, over and above delayed marriage, emigration of the youngest in the family and frequent celibacy : a limitation of fertility within marriage amongst women aged over 35. Whether this was a moral restraint resulting from abstinence or whether it was a matter of limiting births, it is sure that, in these country areas, married couples in the past were able to adapt their behaviour to the ups and downs of the economic and demographic conditions and to ease the path towards the permanence of the stem-family. This family model is mainly based on the couple formed by a lone heir and spouse living together with the parents, and on the inegalitarian transmission of the family property and of the house (maison) -i.e., the building and the lineage- of which the name, like a patronymic, is transmitted from one generation to the next.

Before 1640, the stem-family was able to function with a high rate of mortality and early marriage, that is at a faster pace of renewal of generations than was later the case.
Démographie soviétique, 1920-1950, une redécouverte
Authors: Blum Alain , Ely Maïté , Zakharov Serge
Published: March 2016

Longtemps restée sous forme d'interrogation devant l'insuffisance des sources, l'histoire démographique de l'URSS se révèle peu à peu. L'ouverture des archives rend maintenant l'accès possible aux diverses sources, censitaires ou d'état civil, que le pouvoir soviétique avait préféré laisser enfermées à l'abri des regards.

Cette histoire est en étroite symbiose avec l'histoire politique, les mouvements démographiques de court terme, jalonnés par des catastrophes de 1917 à 1930 suivent les grandes ruptures politiques. En revanche, les évolutions de long terme révèlent des mouvements imperturbables, qui ne sont qu'interrompus temporairement par ces drames. Cet article suit donc ces grandes tendances contradictoires.
Trois siècles de politiques gouvernementales en faveur de la santé publique : un premier aperçu
Authors: Fetter Bruce
Published: March 2016

State initiatives over the past three hundred years have played an important role in lowering mortality levels from approximately forty per thousand per year to less than ten. These policies have depended on a combination of medical knowledge, political will, and financial resources. This paper examines state initiatives which reduced national crude death rates from famine, smallpox, water-borne diseases, and tuberculosis. Despite divergent national approaches, regimes in Asia, Europe, and North America succeeded in reducing mortality from targeted causes by as much as 15 % of pre-existing national crude death rates.
Les effets de la vaccination antivariolique en Suède : protection des enfants et menace nouvelle pour les adultes
Authors: Sköld Peter
Published: March 2016

Smallpox was one of the great killers during the eighteenth century. This essay studies the impact of the disease in the mortality decline and provides an demographie structure of smallpox mortality. However, for a better understanding of epidemie diseases we must also consider cultural and social aspects and answer the question how the causes of smallpox were explained and understood by the public. Smallpox did not only concern mortality, it will be concluded that also nuptiality and marriage stratégies were affected. The appearance of the disease changed when vaccination was introduced in the beginning of the nineteenth century. The important factors for the implementation of this preventive measure will be analyzed and in a concluding discussion will stress vaccination as being most important for the décliné of smallpox mortality, thereby criticizing theories which prefer to see a changing virulence as the decisive factor.
Les effets controversés de l'adduction d'eau sur la santé des populations. Bilan des recherches et expérimentation sur une ville des Pays-Bas (Tilburg)
Authors: van Poppel Frans , Heijden Cor van der
Published: March 2016

The provision of clean water is mentioned as an important factor in many studies dealing with the décliné of mortality in Europe during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In developing countries too, improved water supply is assumed to have a strong impact on mortality. The methodological problems with which researchers are confronted when studying the impact of water supply on public health are manifold. Most of these also apply to historical studies of the subject. In our paper, we review the evidence from this historical research, taking into account the methodological problems observed in contemporary impact évaluation studies, and we use more refined data from the Dutch city of Tilburg, enabling us to overcome many of these shortcomings. Finally, we discuss some factors which may explain why we failed to discover an effect of the availability of piped water on the level of childhood mortalty.
Antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles obtained by pulsed laser ablation in pure water and in chloride solution
Authors: Perito Brunella , Giorgetti Emilia , Marsili Paolo , Muniz-Miranda Maurizio
Published: March 2016

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have increasingly gained importance as antibacterial agents with applications in several fields due to their strong, broad-range antimicrobial properties. AgNP synthesis by pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) permits the preparation of stable Ag colloids in pure solvents without capping or stabilizing agents, producing AgNPs more suitable for biomedical applications than those prepared with common, wet chemical preparation techniques. To date, only a few investigations into the antimicrobial effect of AgNPs produced by PLAL have been performed. These have mainly been performed by ablation in water with nanosecond pulse widths. We previously observed a strong surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal from such AgNPs by “activating” the NP surface by the addition of a small quantity of LiCl to the colloid. Such surface effects could also influence the antimicrobial activity of the NPs. Their activity, on the other hand, could also be affected by other parameters linked to the ablation conditions, such as the pulse width. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs was evaluated for NPs obtained either by nanosecond (ns) or picosecond (ps) PLAL using a 1064 nm ablation wavelength, in pure water or in LiCl aqueous solution, with Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis as references for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. In all cases, AgNPs with an average diameter less than 10 nm were obtained, which has been shown in previous works to be the most effective size for bactericidal activity. The measured zeta-potential values were very negative, indicating excellent long-term colloidal stability. Antibacterial activity was observed against both microorganisms for the four AgNP formulations, but the ps-ablated nanoparticles were shown to more effectively inhibit the growth of both microorganisms. Moreover, LiCl modified AgNPs were the most effective, showing minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in a restricted range of 1.0–3.7 µg/mL. An explanation is proposed for this result based on the increased surface reactivity of the metal surface due to the presence of positively charged active sites.
ON THREE-POINT BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEM
Authors: Sveikate Nadezhda
Published: March 2016

Three-point boundary value problems for the second order nonlinear ordinary differential equations are considered. Existence of solutions are established by using the quasilinearization approach. As an application, the Emden-Fowler type problems with nonresonant and resonant linear parts are considered to demonstrate our results.
AKARI/IRC NEAR-INFRARED SPECTRAL ATLAS OF GALACTIC PLANETARY NEBULAE
Authors: Ohsawa Ryou , Onaka Takashi , Sakon Itsuki , Matsuura Mikako , Kaneda Hidehiro
Published: March 2016

Near-infrared (2.5–5.0 μm) low-resolution (λ/Δλ ∼ 100) spectra of 72 Galactic planetary nebulae (PNe) were obtained with the Infrared Camera (IRC) in the post-helium phase. The IRC, equipped with a 1′ × 1′ window for spectroscopy of a point source, was capable of obtaining near-infrared spectra in a slit-less mode without any flux loss due to a slit. The spectra show emission features including hydrogen recombination lines and the 3.3–3.5 μm hydrocarbon features. The intensity and equivalent width of the emission features were measured by spectral fitting. We made a catalog providing unique information on the investigation of the near-infrared emission of PNe. In this paper, details of the observations and characteristics of the catalog are described.
RAPID PENUMBRA AND LORENTZ FORCE CHANGES IN AN X1.0 SOLAR FLARE
Authors: Xu Zhe , Jiang Yunchun , Yang Jiayang , Yang Bo , Bi Yi
Published: March 2016

We present observations of the violent changes in photospheric magnetic structures associated with an X1.1 flare, which occurred in a compact δ-configuration region in the following part of AR 11890 on 2013 November 8. In both central and peripheral penumbra regions of the small δ sunspot, these changes took place abruptly and permanently in the reverse direction during the flare: the inner/outer penumbra darkened/disappeared, where the magnetic fields became more horizontal/vertical. Particularly, the Lorentz force (LF) changes in the central/peripheral region had a downward/upward and inward direction, meaning that the local pressure from the upper atmosphere was enhanced/released. It indicates that the LF changes might be responsible for the penumbra changes. These observations can be well explained as the photospheric response to the coronal field reconstruction within the framework of the magnetic implosion theory and the back reaction model of flares.
Real-time polymerase chain reaction optimised for hepatitis C virus detection in dried blood spots from HIV-exposed infants, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Naidoo Anneta , Parboosing Raveen , Moodley Pravi
Published: March 2016

Background: There is a paucity of data on the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in children, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. A major obstacle in resource-limited settings for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is the necessity for specimen transportation and storage at low temperatures. There are numerous recent studies of using real-time HCV PCR for diagnosis and screening of plasma and serum, but few have looked at using dried blood spot (DBS) specimens.Objectives: The aim of this study was to optimise a real-time HCV PCR method to detect HCV RNA from infant DBS specimens for use as a tool for HCV surveillance in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Method: The LightCycler® 2.0 instrument was used for the HCV PCR using the LightCycler® RNA Master SYBR Green I kit. Template volume, primer concentration and primer annealing temperatures were optimised and the method was used on 179 DBS specimens from HIV-exposed infants in KwaZulu-Natal.Results: Primer concentrations adjusted to 0.25 µM and a template volume of 10 µL improved the PCR amplification. Primer annealing temperatures lowered from 65 °C to 58 °C resulted in higher quantities of amplified PCR product. The limit of detection of the optimised HCV PCR assay was between 1200 IU/mL and 3580 IU/mL of HCV RNA. HCV was not detected in any of the 179 DBS specimens.Conclusion: The optimised real-time HCV PCR on infant DBS specimens performed well, but HCV was not found in this surveillance study. HIV infection may have little impact on the vertical transmission of HCV in this region.
Editorial
Authors: Yasukawa Keiko
Published: March 2016

Editorial by Keiko Yasukawa.
Evaluation of regional isoprene emission factors and modeled fluxes in California
Authors: Misztal Pawel K. , Avise Jeremy C. , Karl Thomas , Scott Klaus , Jonsson Haflidi H. , Guenther Alex B. , Goldstein Allen H.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. Accurately modeled Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound (BVOC) emissions are an essential input to atmospheric chemistry simulations of ozone and particle formation. BVOC emission models rely on Basal Emission Factors (BEFs) distribution maps based on emission measurements and vegetation landcover data but these critical input components of the models as well as model simulations lack validation by regional scale measurements. We directly assess isoprene emission-factor distribution databases for BVOC emission models by deriving BEFs from direct airborne eddy covariance (AEC) fluxes (Misztal et al., 2014) scaled to the surface and normalized by the activity factor of the Guenther et al. (2006) algorithm. The available airborne BEF data from approx. 10,000 km of flight tracks over California were averaged spatially over 48 defined ecological zones called ecoregions. Consistently, BEFs used by three different emission models were averaged over the same ecoregions for quantitative evaluation. Ecoregion-averaged BEFs from the most current landcover used by the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN) v.2.1 resulted in the best agreement among the tested landcovers and agreed within 10 % with BEFs inferred from measurement. However, the correlation was sensitive to a few discrepancies (either overestimation or underestimation) in those ecoregions where landcover BEFs are less accurate or less representative for the flight track. The two other landcovers demonstrated similar agreement (within 30 % of measurements) for total average BEF across all tested ecoregions but there were a larger number of specific ecoregions that had poor agreement with the observations. Independently, we performed evaluation of the new California Air Resources Board (CARB) hybrid model by directly comparing its simulated isoprene area emissions averaged for the same flight times and flux footprints as actual measured area emissions. The model simulation and the observed surface area emissions agreed on average within 20 %. We show that the choice of model landcover input data has the most critical influence on model-measurement agreement and the uncertainty in meteorology inputs has a lesser impact at scales relevant to regional air quality modeling.
Direct uptake of organically derived carbon by grass roots and allocation in leaves and phytoliths: 13C labeling evidence
Authors: Alexandre Anne , Balesdent Jérôme , Cazevieille Patrick , Chevassus-Rosset Claire , Signoret Patrick , Mazur Jean-Charles , Harutyunyan Araks , Doelsch Emmanuel , Basile-Doelsch Isabelle , Miche Hélène , Santos Guaciara M.
Published: March 2016

Abstract. In the rhizosphere, the uptake of low-molecular-weight carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) by plant roots has been well documented. While organic N uptake relative to total uptake is important, organic C uptake is supposed to be low relative to the plant's C budget. Recently, radiocarbon analyses demonstrated that a fraction of C from the soil was occluded in amorphous silica micrometric particles that precipitate in plant cells (phytoliths). Here, we investigated whether and to what extent organically derived C absorbed by grass roots can feed the C occluded in phytoliths. For this purpose we added 13C- and 15N-labeled amino acids (AAs) to the silicon-rich hydroponic solution of the grass Festuca arundinacea. The experiment was designed to prevent C leakage from the labeled nutritive solution to the chamber atmosphere. After 14 days of growth, the 13C and 15N enrichments (13C excess and 15N excess) in the roots, stems and leaves as well as phytoliths were measured relative to a control experiment in which no labeled AAs were added. Additionally, the 13C excess was measured at the molecular level, in AAs extracted from roots and stems and leaves. The net uptake of labeled AA-derived 13C reached 4.5 % of the total AA 13C supply. The amount of AA-derived 13C fixed in the plant was minor but not nil (0.28 and 0.10 % of total C in roots and stems/leaves, respectively). Phenylalanine and methionine that were supplied in high amounts to the nutritive solution were more 13C-enriched than other AAs in the plant. This strongly suggested that part of AA-derived 13C was absorbed and translocated into the plant in its original AA form. In phytoliths, AA-derived 13C was detected. Its concentration was on the same order of magnitude as in bulk stems and leaves (0.15 % of the phytolith C). This finding strengthens the body of evidences showing that part of organic compounds occluded in phytoliths can be fed by C entering the plant through the roots. Although this experiment was done in nutrient solution and its relevance for soil C uptake assessment is therefore limited, we discuss plausible forms of AA-derived 13C absorbed and translocated in the plant and eventually fixed in phytoliths, and implications of our results for our understanding of the C cycle at the soil–plant–atmosphere interface
How warm was Greenland during the last interglacial period?
Authors: Landais Amaelle , Masson-Delmotte Valérie , Capron Emilie , Langebroek Petra M. , Bakker Pepijn , Stone Emma J. , Merz Niklaus , Raible Christoph C. , Fischer Hubertus , Orsi Anaïs , Prié Frédéric , Vinther Bo , Dahl-Jensen Dorthe
Published: March 2016

Abstract. The last interglacial period (LIG, ~ 129–116 thousand years ago) provides the most recent case study for multi-millennial polar warming above pre-industrial level and a respective response of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets to this warming, as well as a test bed for climate and ice sheet models. Past changes in Greenland ice sheet thickness and surface temperature during this period were recently derived from the NEEM ice core records, North-West Greenland. The NEEM paradox has emerged from an estimated large local warming above pre-industrial level (7.5 ± 1.8 °C at the deposition site 126 ka ago without correction for any overall ice sheet altitude changes between the LIG and pre-industrial) based on water isotopes, together with limited local ice thinning, suggesting more resilience of the real Greenland ice sheet than shown in some ice sheet models. Here, we provide an independent assessment of the average LIG Greenland surface warming using ice core air isotopic composition (δ15N) and relationships between accumulation rate and temperature. The LIG surface temperature at the upstream NEEM deposition site without ice sheet altitude correction is estimated to be warmer by +7 to +11 °C (+8 °C being the most likely estimate according to constraints on past accumulation rate) compared to the pre-industrial period. This temperature estimate is consistent with the 7.5 ± 1.8 °C warming initially determined from NEEM water isotopes. Moreover, we show that under such warm temperatures, melting of snow probably led to a significant firn shrinking by ~ 15 m. Climate simulations performed with present day ice sheet topography lead to much smaller warming but larger amplitudes (up to 5 °C) can be obtained from changes in sea ice extent and ice sheet topography. Still, ice sheet simulations forced by 5 °C surface warming lead to large ice sheet decay that are not compatible with existing data. Our new, independent temperature constrain therefore reinforces the NEEM paradox.