bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L’option Europe : une vue du long terme
Authors: Valaskakis Kimon
Published: July 2012

This article outlines the possibility of a "European option" as an alternative to strict continentalism leading to further integration with the U.S. It is argued that the benefits of such an European option are not immediately visible and by using narrow economic criteria with a short-run horizon, this option is not attractive. However by enlarging the evaluation criteria to include political and cultural considerations and by extending the time-horizon beyond the short into the long-run, the European connection appears very attractive indeed. Primarily the complementarity of Canada and Europe at the level of factors of production can be exploited and factor movements made to flow both ways. This coupled with the cultural and political dimensions make the European option both a feasible and desirable alternative to consider before throwing in the towel to continentalism.
Un modèle intersectoriel incluant une fonction d’investissement et des coefficients techniques variables
Authors: Beaudry Richard , Nepveu Jacques
Published: July 2012

Input-output analysis was always criticized for its inability to simulate all the effects produced by economic development; induced investment and its impact was notably one of the most serious lack usually noted. The model presented here is an attempt to prove that such a problem might well be solved in the future by introducing an investment function in the analysis at reasonable costs. By the same token, it tries to sell the possibility of taking into account the technological changes that occur in various industrial sectors, in allowing technical coefficients to change accordingly. The authors first briefly describe the economic rationale supporting the necessity of introducing such modifications in the static input-output analysis. Then, using the 1966 Quebec Input-Output table as the basic structure of their model, they formulate what could be presented as a fully dynamic (auto-regressive) model that can simulate the main effects that should be evaluated in an impact study: direct and indirect effects, and effects related to induced consumption and investment. Finally, running the model from a fictious variation in final demand and for a ten-year period, they conclude with the following results: 1°) the introduction of the accelerator increases by about 30% (the figure varies from 65% to 15% during the period) the impact that would have been otherwise obtained with the static model; and 2°) the use of actual technical coefficients (the introduction of technological changes) reduces by 20% the impact that would have been estimated without the modification.
Estimation et spécification
Authors: Dagenais Marcel G.
Published: July 2012

In his presidential address to the Société Canadienne de Science Economique, at the 1978 meeting, the author had chosen to talk about the organizational problems of the Société because of the pressing nature of the situation. Should the author have decided to discuss issues related to the science of economics, as is usuall done in such occasions, he would have taken this opportunity to point out that one of the major problems of econometric research is that of specifying correctly the structural models utilized. Econometric textbooks discuss thoroughly the methods of estimations under the assumption that the structure of the econometric model is given. However, it is well known that in practice, trial and error procedures are extensively used to find "acceptable" functional forms for the equations of the models. Efforts have been made to develop systematic techniques of choice between functional forms, but the results available until now are very limited in scope. Much greater research efforts should be devoted to this fundamental topic.
Le coût de l’électricité au Québec : 1976-1990
Authors: Boyer Marcel , Martin Fernand
Published: July 2012

In this paper, the authors develop a model for evaluating the marginal cost of electricity in the Province of Quebec for the period 1976-90. This model requires only available data, namely, the operating cost for the year 1976-77 and the investment plan for the 1976-1985 period. It makes possible the determination of the marginal cost of electricity without having to use a mathematical programming approach for which the required data are not always available.
Modèle de population pour la planification de l’offre de service
Authors: Haurie Alain
Published: July 2012

This paper deals with the problem of adjusting the supply of public services to the demand for such services. In this matter, the planner is faced with a population having a stochastic behavior and he has to solve ticklish resource allocation problems. After presenting a general frame of modeling that fits such problems, the author gives some examples taken from education, social and care services. The last section is devoted to statistical and mathematical problems that have to be solved in order to operationalise such an approach.
Vers un nouvel équilibre monétaire international : un colloque du 46e congrès de l’ACFAS
Authors: Cameron Duncan , Saint-Germain Maurice
Published: July 2012

International monetary questions were chosen by the economics section of ACFAS as the theme of a round table held at the University of Ottawa in May 1978. This article summarizes the discussions amongst Professors V. Leroy and B. Decaluwé, and the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada, Alain Jubinville. Each participant outlined his views on the principal issues: flexible echange rates, intervention policies, and resevre requirements. A question and answer period followed the presentations and the topics raised included the role of multinational enterprises, the plight of the Third World, the significance of the accumulation of petro-dollars, and the effects of a weaker dollar on the international payments system. The article then compares the approaches taken by Professors Decaluwé, Leroy and Cameron in the articles regrouped in this issue of L'Actualité Economique as well as that taken by Professor Nappi in his article in the April-June 1978 issue. In conclusion the questions raised at the colloquium are updated by reference to three new elements which have appeared in the last year: the economic summit in Bonn, the European Monetary System, and the agreed second allocation of Special Drawing Rights.
La prise de décision en situation d’incertitude
Authors: Drèze Jacques H.
Published: July 2012

A conceptual framework is provided by the "states of the world" approach (reviewed in section 1). The powerful normative analysis of individual decision-making under uncertainty extends the theory of consumer choice under certainty into an adequate specification of individual norms of behavior (section 2). But the link with observable market phenomena would require the existence of a complete set of insurance markets, one for every commodity conditionally on every state of the world. Although some disagreement persists on this point, the author feels that the insurance and asset markets which exist in western economies fall substantially short of offering trading opportunities comparable to those implied by a complete set of insurance markets. Consequently, consumer preferences are incompletely revealed by market prices. And business firms lack the information required to reach decisions by mere arithmetic comparisons of alternative profit levels (section 3). Management under uncertainty and incomplete markets acquires genuine significance. What norms of managerial behavior should be assumed for positive economic analysis is a disputed issue. From a normative viewpoint, managerial decisions must be viewed as group decisions, with consequences affecting many individuals—and the theory of such decisions is by necessity more complex (section 4).

Deprived of the powerful clarification introduced by the competitive markets lamppost, the economic analysis of uncertainty must fall back on the elementary principle that all risks are ultimately borne by the individual economic agents, in their triple capacity as consumers, workers and investors. Alternative policies by firm managers or public officials must be evaluated in terms of their consequence for individuals on these three levels. The absence of market references and of reliable positive models causes difficulties in eliciting these consequences. A major concern of policy makers should be to understand better what forms of uncertainty are most costly to bear for individuals, so as to design institutions and policies aimed at transforming these into less costly alternatives (section 5).
Bref aperçu d’un modèle à forme réduite de prévision de la dépense nationale brute au Canada
Authors: Duguay Pierre
Published: July 2012

This paper presents a critical evaluation of a St-Louis type monetarist reduced-form model for Canada. The model centres on two equations estimated over the 1957-1977 sample period. An expenditure equation relates the growth of nominal GNE to the rate of monetary expansion and to changes in autonomous expenditure. The split between real growth and inflation is modelled through a simple Phillips curve with adaptive expectations.

The dynamic properties of the model are discussed, and illustrated with simulations of alternative monetary growth paths. The analysis reveals some disturbing characteristics of this type of model. For instance, the responses of GNE to money supply changes or to price shocks are not symmetrical though both represent the same shock to real money supply. The price response to a monetary shock, while more plausible than in most large macroeconomic models, remains inadequate since increased monetary expansion results in higher real money supply accompanying higher inflation. The author nevertheless leaves the impression that reduced form models are a useful starting point for econometric research; their limitations are only an invitation to further refinements.
Simulations d’un modèle basé sur l’hypothèse du cycle de vie
Authors: Aubry Jean-Pierre , Fleurent Diane
Published: July 2012

This study was undertaken in order to provide better insight into the dynamics of the life-cycle model and to develop a set of quantitative relationships that model the behaviour of macroeconomic aggregates. To begin, a microeconomic model was constructed which could, with a certain accuracy, reproduce behaviour patterns based on the life-cycle hypothesis and, with the aid of observed data on the Canadian population structure, generate a number of macroeconomic variables implied by this behaviour. The dynamics of this model were then examined in a number of simulations in which the effects of variations in population structure, as well as developments in incomes and the interest rate were analyzed. In a third step, we attempted to estimate certain standard consumption functions using the aggregate data generated by the model. While the estimates we obtained met current econometric criteria, these functions, especially where the interest rate was concerned, did not adequately reproduce the model used to generate the data. Finally we tested other formulations which seemed likely to yield a more acceptable representation of the basic model. This exercise, however, proved disappointing.

In conclusion, it was ascertained that the study will have to be further refined in order to integrate into the macroeconomic formulations certain adjustments that would take into account demographic variations as well as the intertemporal substitution effect.
La mise en place du système monétaire européen
Authors: Lelart Michel
Published: July 2012

The author of this paper features the main events that led to the creation of a European monetary system. In the first part, the three stages of the European monetary construction are recalled. In the second part, the author analyses the agreement that occurred on December 5, 1978.
Une analyse économique des loteries québécoises
Authors: Boucher Michel
Published: July 2012

The focus of this article is to analyse the reasons for the success of the Québec Lotteries. To do it perfectly, we study the technical terms of the lottery, drawing, namely the expected value, the probability of winning a prize and the inequality of the prize distribution. Then we analyse some changes introduced by Loto-Québec and we contrast the results with other more established lotteries and the differences so observed may provide additional reasons for its success.

In the second part, we use the theory of choice involving risk as described by Allais and Tobin to explain the demand for lotteries tickets. We find, by a statistical analysis, where the independent variables are the mean value and the variance of the prize distribution, that people who buy tickets are generally speaking risk-averters and not risk-lovers and they behave as such when Loto-Québec changes the mean value and the variance.
Effets de la crise de l’énergie sur la croissance économique de Montréal et du Québec
Authors: Martin Fernand
Published: July 2012

This impact depends upon changes in trends of certain economic activities both in the short and long run.

In the short run the impact will be different in Canada as compared to the United States. The presence of a large hydro-electric capacity will ease the impact of the crisis. Yet, the federal government intervention in the level of oil prices and in the construction of the Sarnia-Montréal pipe-line introduces enough uncertainty to postpone many investment decisions in the Montreal petrochemical complex.

In the long run some substitution is possible among sources of energy. In this respect the future Bay James hydro-electrical project should endow the Province of Quebec with a locational advantage, at least in the case of some industries.

On the other hand, under the hypothesis that the price of foreign oil will remain high, Montreal looses one of its advantages: the access to cheap oil. This coupled with the fact that the petrochemical industries, e.g., those linked to secondary refining processes such as cracking, reforming and alkylation, prefer a location near the market, will in the long run reduce the rate of growth of the petrochemical complex near Montreal. The market forces are so strong that even before the crisis, Montreal, from 1960 to 1973, experienced a gradual weakening of its relative importance in the secondary stages of refining; for instance in alkylation its position went from 57.3 p.c. of total Canadian capacity to 16.8 p.c.

If the hydro-electric potential is not used by the Province of Quebec as a development tool, the oil crisis will slightly hurt Montreal's prospects for development.
Le tourisme dans la région métropolitaine de Montréal
Authors: Proulx Pierre-Paul , Beaudry Richard
Published: July 2012

This article presents summarily the tourist resources and equipment available; the mechanism through which tourists are informed and received; data on the number of tourists (with a forecast) having come to Montreal and the Province of Quebec; information of congress, Expo, the Olympic Games; the expenditures of tourists; the employment and income creation attributable to tourism. It concludes with suggestions to the effect that a multidimensional inter-departmental approach be taken to deal adequately with tourism.
Des méthodes quantitatives appliquées au secteur des exportations québécoises, 1969
Authors: Nappi Carmine
Published: July 2012

This paper explores the relationship between the structural models and different trade indices which can be used to quantify Quebec and other Canadian regions export sector. An attempt is made to measure the degrees of specialization of exports for fifty goods, the interprovincial and international export intensity indices for the five Canadian regions, and the export performance indices for the provinces under study. The conclusion highlights the importance of the east-west Canadian trade, specially for the internal provinces. Finally, the Quebec commercial characteristics in relation with those of other Canadian provinces (and the need to take them into account when formulating a federal trade policy) are outlined and stressed.
Le revenu annuel garanti : nouvelle forme de sécurité du revenu
Authors: Bellerose Pierre-Paul
Published: July 2012

This paper discusses guaranteed annual income (GAI) as a mean of income redistribution and an alternative to current income security programs, with an emphasis on some basic facts commonly overlooked in recent debates.

In the first part, GAI is shown to be, conceptually and technically, a logical evolution rather than a revolution considering the current income security program.

In the second part, we show that the cost of income security programs must essentially be related to the amount of "net transfers". As a consequence, GAI programs will be costlier than the present system, because they require greater net transfers.

In the third part, given a distribution of families by level of income, we show that the rate of decrease of poverty through any GAI program depends on the relative values of both the arbitrarily chosen poverty threshold and on the selected breaking point of "zero net transfer". Finally, rules are established pertaining to the effect of various GAI programs on poverty.
The Need for Screening, Assessment, and Treatment for Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Foley Frederick W. , Benedict Ralph H.B. , Gromisch Elizabeth S. , DeLuca John
Published: July 2012

Cognitive dysfunction is observed in about half of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and MS health-care professionals face the challenge of screening, assessing, and treating patients for cognitive problems. Considering the inconsistent or limited empirical evidence to assist in this task, a multidisciplinary consensus conference of MS experts, sponsored by the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC), was held on September 24, 2010, to address these issues. Key articles from the literature on these topics were distributed prior to the meeting, and CMSC member professionals were surveyed on clinical practices related to screening, assessment, and treatment for cognitive problems. The purpose of the meeting was threefold: 1) to achieve a multidisciplinary perspective on practices for screening, monitoring, evaluating, and treating MS patients for cognitive problems; 2) to propose consensus candidate measures for screening and/or monitoring for cognitive problems in MS that neurologists or nurses might administer on a regular basis; and 3) to propose consensus treatment approaches from a multidisciplinary perspective. This article summarizes the conclusions of the conference participants and provides preliminary suggestions for screening and brief assessment.
Prediction of Driving Ability in People with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Using the Stroke Driver Screening Assessment
Authors: Akinwuntan Abiodun Emmanuel , O'Connor Christina , McGonegal Erin , Turchi Kristen , Smith Suzanne , Williams Mitzi , Wachtel Jerry
Published: July 2012

The ability to drive is often affected in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) because of the motor, visual, or cognitive deficits commonly associated with the condition. In this study, we investigated the accuracy with which the Stroke Driver Screening Assessment (SDSA), an established battery for the prediction of driving performance of stroke survivors, would predict driving performance of individuals with MS. Driving performance of 44 individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (mean ± SD age, 46 ± 11 years; 37 females and 7 males) who were currently driving at least once a month was predicted using their performance on the SDSA. Outcomes of a road test and the Useful Field of View (UFOV) test were used as measures of driving ability. Participants' performance on both the road and UFOV tests was predicted with more than 80% accuracy. The SDSA was more accurate in predicting who would pass the two tests than who would fail the tests. The SDSA battery appears to be a good predictor of driving performance of individuals with relapsing-remitting MS, especially those who have sufficient cognitive skills to continue driving. Larger studies are needed to definitively establish its predictive accuracy and confirm the validity of the predictions.
Promising New Approaches to Assess Cognitive Functioning in People with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Becker Heather , Stuifbergen Alexa , Morrison Janet
Published: July 2012

Cognitive impairment has a major impact on the lives of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Yet it is often underdiagnosed, and more-effective assessment methods are needed. In particular, brief measures that focus on cognitive functioning in daily life situations, are sensitive to modest change over time, and do not require a highly skilled assessor merit exploration. The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the performance of individuals with MS on three relatively new measures—the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Cognitive Concerns and Abilities Scales and the Everyday Problems Test (EPT)—and to compare scores on these measures with scores on neurocognitive performance measures typically used to assess cognitive functioning in people with MS. Twenty-nine individuals with MS who reported cognitive concerns participated in the study. Most were non-Hispanic white women with relapsing-remitting MS that was diagnosed approximately 18 years previously. All three measures yielded reliability coefficients of 0.80 or above and also demonstrated sensitivity to change following an educational intervention. Scores on the Revised EPT (EPT-R) were moderately correlated with scores on five standard neuropsychological measures. Compared with scores on the PROMIS Cognitive Concerns Scale, those on the self-reported PROMIS Cognitive Abilities Scale tended to correlate more highly with the neurocognitive performance measures, although the correlations were generally small. While results of this exploratory study are promising, future research should be conducted with larger and more diverse samples of people with MS to determine the broader utility of these measures.
Intra-individual Variability as a Measure of Information Processing Difficulties in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Wojtowicz Magdalena , Berrigan Lindsay I. , Fisk John D.
Published: July 2012

Deficits in information processing speed are among the most commonly reported impairments in multiple sclerosis (MS) and are generally assessed by evaluating mean-level performance on time-limited tests. However, this approach to assessing performance ignores potential within-subject differences in MS patients that may be useful for characterizing cognitive difficulties in MS. An alternative method of measuring performance is by examining the degree of within-subject variability, termed intra-individual variability (IIV). Intra-individual variability provides information about the characteristics of a person's performance over time and may provide novel information about cognitive functioning in MS. This study examined IIV in performance on the Computerized Test of Information Processing (CTIP) using two within-subject variability methods: individual standard deviation and coefficient of variation. Eighteen females with relapsing-remitting MS and 18 healthy female controls completed the CTIP. Consistent with previous research, MS patients demonstrated slower overall mean performance on the CTIP compared with controls, with patients becoming increasingly slower than controls as cognitive demands increased across the tasks. Furthermore, MS patients demonstrated greater IIV as measured by individual standard deviations on all subtests of the CTIP, even with mean-level group differences as well as practice and learning effects controlled. These between-group differences were not found when the coefficient of variation, a more coarse measure of within-subject variability, was used. Intra-individual variability was also found to be a better predictor of neurologic status than mean-level performance. These results suggest that IIV may provide unique insight into cognitive functioning in MS.
Information Processing and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Indices of Brain Pathology in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Omisade Antonina , Fisk John D. , Klein Raymond M. , Schmidt Matthias , Darvesh Sultan , Bhan Virender
Published: July 2012

Accumulation of central nervous system (CNS) pathology affects cognitive processing speed and efficiency and is thought to underlie attentional and executive deficits in multiple sclerosis (MS). Most clinical neuropsychological tests are multifactorial and are limited in their sensitivity to specific cognitive processes. This may, in part, account for the low to moderate correlations between clinical test results and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indices of brain pathology. We compared the ability of a clinical and an experimental test of cognitive processing speed to differentiate domain-specific cognitive changes in MS, and examined relations between test performance and MRI measures of brain pathology. Twelve MS patients and 12 controls completed the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) and the Attention Networks Test–Interactions (ANT-I), a computerized response latency task. Subjects also had MRI scans that included T1, T2, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences that provided global and localized volumetric measures. Patients made more errors on the PASAT and were slower on the ANT-I. The ANT-I also revealed specific deficits in response inhibition. In addition, ANT-I performance was associated with changes in a number of MRI measures, which was not the case for the PASAT. Reaction time paradigms that manipulate within-task demands on distinct cognitive functions may provide meaningful markers of brain disease burden in MS.
Editorial
Authors: Smeby Jens-Christian , Johnsson Eva , Nerland Monika , Olessen Søren Gytz , Wrede Sirpa
Published: July 2012

The editorial team introduces the journal.
How important is Autonomy to Professional Workers?
Authors: Mastekaasa Arne
Published: July 2012

A common assumption is that autonomy is crucial to professional workers. I examine this using survey data on a sample of public sector welfare professionals, viz. medical doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers. Comparisons are made with general population data from the International Social Survey Programme. Two methods of assessing the importance of work autonomy are employed; respondents’ direct ratings and statistical associations between work autonomy (and other job characteristics) on the one hand and job satisfaction and organizational commitment on the other. Findings: Autonomy is not rated as more important among the professionals than in the general population, and neither is it more strongly related to job satisfaction. Interesting work and workplace social support appear to be more central.
Professions as Science-Based Occupations
Authors: Brante Thomas
Published: July 2012

How professions should be defined and separated from other occupations has constituted an enduring theoretical and empirical problem in studies of the professions. In this article, the definitions of the so-called list approaches, involving enumerations of social attributes, are scrutinized. Weak-nesses are highlighted and analysed. It is argued that an alternative approach to the issue of definition, commencing from the epistemic or cognitive dimensions of professions, may be more fruitful. One such possibility is presented by setting out from realist philosophy of science. The links between science and profession are explored by addressing, primarily, the relation between the concepts of mechanism and intervention. A new, ‘invariant’ definition is proposed. In conclusion, a few consequences for future empirical studies of the professions are outlined.
Relations between Professions and Organizations: More Fully Considering the Role of the Client
Authors: Bourgeault Ivy Lynn , Hirschkorn Kristine , Sainsaulieu Ivan
Published: July 2012

In much of the literature exploring the relations between professions and organizations, the relationship tends to be depicted as, or otherwise assumed to be in opposition. What this depiction conceals is a more complex and sometimes symbiotic relationship that can exist between professions and organizations. Still lacking in this more nuanced perspective, however, is an explicit acknowledgement of the influential role that clients of professions and organizations play in this relationship. In this paper we make the case for a more explicit and dynamic conceptualisation of the relationship between professions, organizations and clients based on a review of the classic and contemporary literature. Part of our goal is to more adequately address the inter-relationship between professionals and organizations by unpacking organizations, by highlighting the unique position of professions within organizations, and the different influences that clients can have on the orientation of professions within organizations.
Archivists—A Profession in Transition?
Authors: Kallberg Maria
Published: July 2012

E-government development has put pressure on public organizations to work with electronic information. Records from complex e-government services have to be captured and managed in order to be accessible both in the present and in the long term. The data and analysis presented is based on a multiple case study of nine Swedish local governments (municipalities) identified as good ex-amples of best practice of e-government. An analytical model for recordkeeping awareness in three arenas: the legal, the political and the workplace has been created in order to identify how political decisions and new technology impact on professional archivists’ practice and status. The research findings demonstrate a gap between the legal and workplace arenas in both directions caused by lack of recordkeeping awareness primarily within the political arena. Archivists´ profes-sional status seems to be limited, which opens up possibilities for other profes-sional groups to replace them.
Professional Autonomy versus Corporate Control
Authors: Nygaard Pål
Published: July 2012

Professionalism and bureaucracy tend to be understood as incompatible systems of work organization, represented by the ideals of collegiality and auton-omy versus control and supervision. I present a historical case study from early 20th century Norway examining the potential clash between efforts made toward professionalization and bureaucratization in industry. Based on my findings, I argue that there is neither an inherent conflict between professionalism and bureaucracy nor static national trajectories at the level of professional versus bureaucratic work organization.
Work–Family Interference: Nurses in Norway and Finland
Authors: Abrahamsen Bente , Holte Kari Anne , Laine Marjukka
Published: July 2012

Abstract The aim of the study is to investigate the level of work–family inter-ference (WFI) for part-time nurses in Norway and Finland. Part-time work is usually cited as a desirable way in which to facilitate work and family harmony. However, the opportunity to work part-time in professions may be associated with greater difficulties and challenges than commonly presumed. Part-time professionals are often stigmatized as being less committed to work and report fewer job rewards than colleagues in full-time positions. This study challenges the notion of the desir-able consequences of work hour flexibility concerning the integration of work and family. Part-time nurses in Norway and Finland report an equal level or even higher levels of interference than nurses in full-time positions. A disproportional distri-bution of inconvenient work schedules appears to be a central explanation for the results reported by Norwegian nurses, but to a lesser degree by Finnish nurses.
Cu–Nb Nanocomposite Wires Processed by Severe Plastic Deformation: Effects of the Multi‐Scale Microstructure and Internal Stresses on Elastic‐Plastic Properties
Authors: Dubois Jean‐Baptiste , Thilly Ludovic , Renault Pierre‐Olivier , Lecouturier Florence
Published: July 2012

Copper‐based high strength and high electrical conductivity nanocomposite wires reinforced by Nb nanotubes are prepared by severe plastic deformation, applied with an Accumulative Drawing and Bundling process (ADB), for the windings of high pulsed magnets. The ADB process leads to a multi‐scale Cu matrix containing up to N = 854 (52.2 106) continuous parallel Nb tubes with diameter down to few tens nanometers. After heavy strain, the Nb nanotubes exhibit a homogeneous microstructure with grain size below 100 nm. The Cu matrix presents a multi‐scale microstructure with multi‐modal grain size distribution from the micrometer to the nanometer range. In‐situ tensile tests of the nanocomposite wires under neutrons and high energy synchrotron beam shed light on the effects of the multi‐scale microstructure and internal stresses on their macroscopic elastic‐plastic properties, revealing that microstructure architecture offers an additional degree of freedom in the tailoring of materials properties.
Domain Models of Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Materials
Authors: Rößler Ulrich K.
Published: July 2012

Magnetic shape‐memory materials are multiferroics that combine ferroelastic and ferromagnetic order. The diffusionless transformation processes in these materials unroll by the creation of crystallographic domains or twinned microstructures that are coupled to magnetic domain patterns. Miniaturization of the crystallographic domains to the scale of lattice unit cells is afforded by the concept of adaptive modulated martensite. A ferroelastic model for these crystallographic domain patterns is introduced for the exemplary case of the Ni2MnGa Heusler alloy. The pseudo‐microscopic model incorporates data from ab initio calculations and phonon dispersion. The twin‐boundary energy for the diffuse wall of this model are very low of the order 1 mJ · m−2 fulfilling a key requirement for the formation of adaptive martensite in this material. An extension of the Ginzburg–Landau phase‐field model for large strain gradients is introduced to model atomically sharp twin‐boundaries.
Semi‐Transparent Tandem Organic Solar Cells with 90% Internal Quantum Efficiency
Authors: Tang Zheng , George Zandra , Ma Zaifei , Bergqvist Jonas , Tvingstedt Kristofer , Vandewal Koen , Wang Ergang , Andersson L. Mattias , Andersson Mats R. , Zhang Fengling , Inganäs Olle
Published: July 2012

Semi‐transparent (ST) organic solar cells with potential application as power generating windows are studied. The main challenge is to find proper transparent electrodes with desired electrical and optical properties. In this work, this is addressed by employing an amphiphilic conjugated polymer PFPA‐1 modified ITO coated glass substrate as the ohmic electron‐collecting cathode and PEDOT:PSS PH1000 as the hole‐collecting anode. For active layers based on different donor polymers, considerably lower reflection and parasitic absorption are found in the ST solar cells as compared to solar cells in the standard geometry with an ITO/PEDOT:PSS anode and a LiF/Al cathode. The ST solar cells have remarkably high internal quantum efficiency at short circuit condition (∼90%) and high transmittance (∼50%). Hence, efficient ST tandem solar cells with enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to a single ST solar cell can be constructed by connecting the stacked two ST sub‐cells in parallel. The total loss of photons by reflection, parasitic absorption and transmission in the ST tandem solar cell can be smaller than the loss in a standard solar cell based on the same active materials. We demonstrate this by stacking five separately prepared ST cells on top of each other, to obtain a higher photocurrent than in an optimized standard solar cell.
Development of a novel chemiluminescence method for the determination of cefazolin sodium in injectable powder and human urine based on a luminol‐Cu(III) complex reaction in alkaline medium
Authors: Sun Hanwen , Wang Juan , Wang Ting
Published: July 2012

A novel chemiluminescence (CL) method was developed for the determination of cefazolin sodium based on the CL reaction between the [Cu(HIO6)2]5‐Cu(III) complex and luminol in alkaline solution. Results showed that CL emission of Cu(III) complex–luminol in alkaline medium was significantly different from that in acidic medium. A possible mechanism of the enhanced effect of cefazolin on CL emission of the [Cu(HIO6)2]5‐‐ luminol system was proposed. The effect of the reaction conditions on CL emissions was examined. Under optimized conditions, a good linear relationship was obtained between CL intensity and concentrations of cefazolin sodium in the range of 2.0 x 10‐8 to 2.0 x 10‐6 g/mL with a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.9978. The limit of detection was 4.58 x 10‐9 g/mL. The proposed method was applied for the determination of cefazolin sodium in real samples with recoveries of 82.0‐109% with an RSD of 0.7‐2.1%. The proposed method was successfully used for the determination of cefazolin sodium in injectable powder preparations and human urine with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Different Methods for the Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater by Determining the Petroleum Hydrocarbon Content
Authors: Voyevoda Maryna , Geyer Wolfgang , Mosig Peter , Seeger Eva M. , Mothes Sibylle
Published: July 2012

The effectiveness of different remediation procedures for decreasing the amount of TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbons) in contaminated groundwater was evaluated at the site of a former refinery. The investigations were carried out on samples taken from several gravel based HSSF (horizontal subsurface flow) constructed wetlands (CW) which differed in relation to their filter material additives (no additive, charcoal, and ferric oxides additives) and examined the potential effect of these additives on the overall treatment efficiency. Samples of the following gravel based HSSF CW were investigated. No filter additive (system A), 0.1% activated carbon (system B), 0.5% iron(III) hydroxide (system C), and the reference (system D). Systems A–C were planted with common reed (Phragmites australis), whereas system D remained unplanted. In addition, the influence of seasonal conditions on the reduction of these hydrocarbons and the correlation between the amounts of TPH and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers), on the one hand, and methyl tert‐butyl ether, on the other, was investigated. The study was carried out by using a modified GC‐FID approach and multivariate methods. The investigations carried out in the first year of operation demonstrated that the effectiveness of the petroleum hydrocarbon removal was highest and reached a level of 93 ± 3.5% when HSSF filters with activated carbon as a filter additive were used. This remediation method allowed the petroleum hydrocarbon content to be reduced independently of seasonal conditions. The correlation between the reduction of TPH and BTEX was found to be R = 0.8824. Using this correlation coefficient, the time‐consuming determination of the BTEX content was no longer necessary.
Adaptive radiation in extremophilic Dorvilleidae (Annelida): diversification of a single colonizer or multiple independent lineages?
Authors: Thornhill Daniel J. , Struck Torsten H. , Ebbe Brigitte , Lee Raymond W. , Mendoza Guillermo F. , Levin Lisa A. , Halanych Kenneth M.
Published: July 2012

Metazoan inhabitants of extreme environments typically evolved from forms found in less extreme habitats. Understanding the prevalence with which animals move into and ultimately thrive in extreme environments is critical to elucidating how complex life adapts to extreme conditions. Methane seep sediments along the Oregon and California margins have low oxygen and very high hydrogen sulfide levels, rendering them inhospitable to many life forms. Nonetheless, several closely related lineages of dorvilleid annelids, including members of
Ophryotrocha, Parougia, and
Exallopus, thrive at these sites in association with bacterial mats and vesicomyid clam beds. These organisms are ideal for examining adaptive radiations in extreme environments. Did dorvilleid annelids invade these extreme environments once and then diversify? Alternatively, did multiple independent lineages adapt to seep conditions? To address these questions, we examined the evolutionary history of methane‐seep dorvilleids using 16S and Cyt b genes in an ecological context. Our results indicate that dorvilleids invaded these extreme habitats at least four times, implying preadaptation to life at seeps. Additionally, we recovered considerably more dorvilleid diversity than is currently recognized. A total of 3 major clades (designated “
Ophryotrocha,” “Mixed Genera” and “
Parougia”) and 12 terminal lineages or species were encountered. Two of these lineages represented a known species,
Parougia oregonensis, whereas the remaining 10 lineages were newly discovered species. Certain lineages exhibited affinity to geography, habitat, sediment depth, and/or diet, suggesting that dorvilleids at methane seeps radiated via specialization and resource partitioning.
Song convergence in multiple urban populations of silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis)
Authors: Potvin Dominique A. , Parris Kirsten M.
Published: July 2012

Recent studies have revealed differences between urban and rural vocalizations of numerous bird species. These differences include frequency shifts, amplitude shifts, altered song speed, and selective meme use. If particular memes sung by urban populations are adapted to the urban soundscape, “urban‐typical” calls, memes, or repertoires should be consistently used in multiple urban populations of the same species, regardless of geographic location. We tested whether songs or contact calls of silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) might be subject to such convergent cultural evolution by comparing syllable repertoires of geographically dispersed urban and rural population pairs throughout southeastern Australia. Despite frequency and tempo differences between urban and rural calls, call repertoires were similar between habitat types. However, certain song syllables were used more frequently by birds from urban than rural populations. Partial redundancy analysis revealed that both geographic location and habitat characteristics were important predictors of syllable repertoire composition. These findings suggest convergent cultural evolution: urban populations modify both song and call syllables from their local repertoire in response to noise.
Purposive versus random sampling for map validation: a case study on ecotope maps of floodplains in the Netherlands
Authors: Knotters M. , Brus D. J.
Published: July 2012

The quality of ecotope maps of five districts of main water courses in the Netherlands was assessed on the basis of independent validation samples of field observations. The overall proportion of area correctly classified, and user's and producer's accuracy for each map unit were estimated. In four districts, the validation samples were selected purposively in the past. For the fifth district, a stratified two‐stage probability sample was designed, such that the spatial pattern resembles that of the purposive samples. For the purposively sampled districts, measures of map quality were estimated following a model‐based approach, using a model for the spatial variation of classification errors. For the randomly sampled district, measures of map quality were obtained following a design‐based approach, using the inclusion probabilities of the sampling points. The overall proportions of area correctly classified vary from 61% to 76%. Both user's and producer's accuracies show large variation among the map units. Model‐based predictions of producer's accuracies from two models differed strongly, indicating that with the model‐based approach the validation results strongly depend on model assumptions. We demonstrate that stratified two‐stage random sampling answers to the same practical and budgetary constraints as purposive sampling. Stratified two‐stage sampling combined with a design‐based estimation method results in model‐free estimates of the overall proportion of area correctly classified, user's and producer's accuracies. This means that the inferential validity of the estimated overall proportion of area correctly classified and user's and producer's accuracies is rigorously established if a design‐based approach is followed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of five and six‐membered cyclic glycerilic carbonates bearing exocyclic urethane functions
Authors: Nohra Bassam , Candy Laure , Blanco Jean‐François , Raoul Yann , Mouloungui Zephirin
Published: July 2012

Five (5CGC) and six (6CGC) membered cyclic glycerilic carbonates having exocyclic urethane functions, as potential monomers for polyurethanes and polycarbonates, were prepared by two different routes: “two‐steps” and the “one‐pot” synthesis. For the “two‐steps” route, based on the consecutive aminolysis and transesterification reactions, a catalyst screening has been performed. Phosphazene showed the best catalytic activity and provided 5CGC and 6CGC in appreciable amounts whereas the other catalysts favored 5CGC formation. An increase in molar ratio of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) increased the yield and the conversion. In the “one‐pot” synthesis, where aminolysis and transesterification were simultaneous, a competition between products formation was demonstrated. In addition to the formation of mono‐hydroxyurethanes and glycerilic cyclic carbonates (5CGC and 6CGC), the fast aminolysis of 6CGC and the slower aminolysis of 5CGC was responsible for a partial di‐hydroxyurethanes production. The controlled and combined effects of catalyst and DMC excess acting as solvent and reagent allowed to selectively controlling the aminolysis and the transesterification reactions. The same reaction conditions were used for the synthesis of bicyclic carbonates. These new molecules enriched with urethane functions, provided novel and more environmentally friendly synthons for the synthesis of polyurethanes without the use of phosgene or isocyanate.
Convergent Synthesis of Glycodendropeptides by Click Chemistry Approaches
Authors: Kowalczyk Wioleta , Mascaraque Ainhoa , Sánchez‐Navarro Macarena , Rojo Javier , Andreu David
Published: July 2012

Mannosylation facilitates the uptake of immunogenic peptides by antigen‐processing cells expressing mannose receptors at their surface. Mannose‐receptor interactions not only induce internalization but also trigger strong T‐cell stimulation, such as that of the dendritic cell‐specific intercellular ICAM‐3 grabbing non‐integrin (DC‐SIGN), a lectin that plays a key role in the immune response against different pathogens. We describe here two efficient synthetic strategies for structurally well‐defined mannose‐displaying glycodendropeptides with up to 16 peptide and 9 mannose copies. Our approaches integrate previously optimized synthetic methods for producing both peptide and glycan dendrimers, and make extensive use of CuI‐catalyzed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition for both the building of the glycodendron moieties and their subsequent conjugation to the peptide components. These strategies are versatile and straightforward enabling full control of chemical structure as well as readily tunable valency.
Unambiguous Characterization of the Sesquiterpene (7R,9E)‐1,2,11‐Trihydroxy‐1,3,5,9‐bisabolatetraene through Its Enantioselective Synthesis
Authors: Serra Stefano , Fronza Giovanni
Published: July 2012

The bisabolane sesquiterpene (7R,9E)‐1,2,11‐trihydroxy‐1,3,5,9‐bisabolatetraene previously extracted from Commiphora kua resins was prepared by enantioselective synthesis using an enzyme‐mediated resolution procedure as the key step. Both the chemical structure and the absolute configuration were unambiguously assigned, although the comparison of the obtained analytical data with those previously reported for the isolated terpene indicated a possible error in the characterization of the natural product. A further study on the chemical stability of the aforementioned compound revealed that it is very unstable in an acidic environment, where it cyclizes readily to give the corresponding chromane derivatives.