bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional nitrogen oxides emission trends in East Asia observed from space
Authors: Mijling B. , van der A R. J. , Zhang Q.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. Due to changing economic activity, emissions of air pollutants in East Asia change rapidly in space and time. Monthly emission estimates of nitrogen oxides derived from satellite observations provide valuable insight in the evolution of anthropogenic activity on a regional scale. We present the first results of a new emission estimation algorithm, specifically designed to use daily satellite observations of column concentrations for fast updates of emissions of short-lived atmospheric constituents on a~mesoscopic scale (~ 0.25° × 0.25°). The algorithm is used to construct a monthly NOx emission time series for 2007–2011 from tropospheric NO2 observations of GOME-2 for East Chinese provinces and surrounding countries. The new emission estimates correspond well with the bottom-up inventory of EDGAR v4.2, but are smaller than the inventories of INTEX-B and MEIC. They reveal a strong positive trend during 2007–2011 for almost all Chinese provinces, related to the country's economic development. We find a 41% increment of NOx emissions in East China during this period, which shows the need to update emission inventories in this region on a regular basis. Negative emission trends are found in Japan and South Korea, which can be attributed to a combined effect of local environmental policy and global economic crises. Analysis of seasonal variation distinguishes between regions with dominant anthropogenic or biogenic emissions. For regions with a mixed anthropogenic and biogenic signature, the opposite seasonality can be used for an estimation of the separate emission contributions. Finally, the non-local concentration/emission relationships calculated by the algorithm are used to quantify the direct effect of regional NOx emissions on tropospheric NO2 concentrations outside the region. For regions such as North Korea and Beijing province, a substantial part of the tropospheric NO2 originates from emissions elsewhere.
Formation of gas-phase carbonyls from heterogeneous oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids at the air–water interface and of the sea surface microlayer
Authors: Zhou S. , Gonzalez L. , Leithead A. , Finewax Z. , Thalman R. , Vlasenko A. , Vagle S. , Miller L. , Li S.-M. , Bureekul S. , Furutani H. , Uematsu M. , Volkamer R. , Abbatt J.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. Motivated by the potential for reactive heterogeneous chemistry occurring at the ocean surface, gas-phase products were observed when a reactive sea surface microlayer (SML) component, i.e. the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) linoleic acid (LA), was exposed to gas-phase ozone at the air–seawater interface. Similar oxidation experiments were conducted with SML samples collected from two different oceanic locations, in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and from the west coast of Canada. Online proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and light-emitting diode cavity enhanced differential optical absorption spectroscopy (LED-CE-DOAS) were used to detect oxygenated gas-phase products from the ozonolysis reactions. The LA studies indicate that oxidation of a PUFA monolayer on seawater gives rise to prompt and efficient formation of gas phase aldehydes. The products are formed via the decomposition of primary ozonides which form upon the initial reaction of ozone with the carbon-carbon double bonds in the PUFA molecules. In addition, two highly reactive di-carbonyls, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glyoxal, were also generated, likely as secondary products. Specific yields relative to reactant loss were 78%, 29%, 4% and <1% for n-hexanal, 3-nonenal, MDA and glyoxal, respectively, where the yields for MDA and glyoxal are likely lower limits. Heterogeneous oxidation of SML samples confirm for the first time that similar carbonyl products are formed via ozonolysis of environmental samples. The potential impact of such chemistry on the atmosphere of the marine boundary layer is discussed.
CloudSat observations of cloud-type distribution over the Indian summer monsoon region
Authors: Subrahmanyam K. V. , Kumar K. K.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. The three-dimensional distribution of various cloud types over the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) region using five years (2006–2010) of CloudSat observations during June-July-August-September months is discussed for the first time. As the radiative properties, latent heat released and microphysical properties of clouds differ largely depending on the cloud type, it becomes important to know what types of clouds occur over which region. In this regard, the present analysis establishes the three-dimensional distribution of frequency of occurrence of stratus (St), stratocumulus (Sc), nimbostratus (Ns), cumulus (Cu), altocumulus (Ac), altostratus (As), cirrus (Ci) and deep convective (DC) clouds over the ISM region. The results show that the various cloud types preferentially occur over some regions of the ISM, which are consistent during all the years of observations. It is found that the DC clouds frequently occur over northeast of Bay of Bengal (BoB), Ci clouds over a wide region of south BoB–Indian peninsula–equatorial Indian Ocean, and Sc clouds over the north Arabian Sea. Ac clouds preferentially occur over land, and a large amount of As clouds are found over BoB. The occurrence of both St and Ns clouds over the study region is much lower than all other cloud types.The interannual variability of all these clouds including their vertical distribution is discussed. It is envisaged that the present study opens up possibilities to quantify the feedback of individual cloud type in the maintenance of the ISM through radiative forcing and latent heat release.
Downward fluxes of elemental carbon, metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in settling particles from the deep Ionian Sea (NESTOR site), Eastern Mediterranean
Authors: Theodosi C. , Parinos C. , Gogou A. , Kokotos A. , Stavrakakis S. , Lykousis V. , Hatzianestis J. , Mihalopoulos N.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. To assess sources and major processes controlling the vertical transport of both anthropogenic and natural chemical species in a deep basin of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (SE Ionian Sea, Nestor site), we performed chemical characterization (elemental carbon, major and trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) of marine sinking particles. Sediment traps were deployed at five successive depths, 700, 1200, 2000, 3200 and 4300 m from the sea surface from May 2007 to October 2008. Fluxes of all measured chemical species, attributed to both natural and anthropogenic sources, exhibited minimum values from January to March 2008 and maximum from April to September 2008. Crustal matter flux from atmospheric inputs – either "freshly" deposited or stored in the surface layers – plays an important role in the temporal variability of particulate marine matter fluxes along with particulate organic carbon export, imposing ballast effects. Tracers (elemental carbon, retene) of the devastating forest fires that occurred in August 2007 in southern Greece were detected in sediment trap material from all depths with a delay of 15 days at 4300 m, indicating a rapid and well-coupled transport of sinking particulate material between the sea-surface and deep layers of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. This is in accordance with an evident covariance between certain compounds, suggesting common sources and/or transport mechanisms to depth. Lateral inputs of pollutants at the deepest trap (4300 m) are probably of importance, related to the periodic influence of deep Adriatic water at the study site.
Modeling dust emission response to North Atlantic millennial-scale climate variations from the perspective of East European MIS 3 loess deposits
Authors: Sima A. , Kageyama M. , Rousseau D.-D. , Ramstein G. , Balkanski Y. , Antoine P. , Hatté C.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. European loess sequences of the Marine Isotope Stage 3 (~60–25 kyr BP) show periods of strong dust accumulation alternating with episodes of reduced sedimentation, favoring soil development. In the western part of the loess belt centered around 50° N, these variations appear to have been related to the North Atlantic rapid climate changes: the Dansgaard–Oeschger (DO) and Heinrich (H) events. It has been recently suggested that the North Atlantic climate signal can be detected further east, in loess deposits from Stayky (50°05.65' N, 30°53.92' E), Ukraine. Here we use climate and dust emission modeling to investigate this data interpretation. We focus on the areas north and northeast of the Carpathians, where loess deposits can be found, and the corresponding main dust sources must have been located as well. The simulations were performed with the LMDZ atmospheric general circulation model and the ORCHIDEE land surface model. They represent a reference "Greenland stadial" state and two perturbations, seen as sensitivity tests with respect to changes in the North Atlantic surface conditions between 30° and 63° N: a "Greenland interstadial" and an "H event". The main source for the loess deposits in the studied area is identified as a dust deflation band, with two very active spots located west-northwest from our reference site. Emissions only occur between February and June. Differences from one deflation spot to another, and from one climate state to another, are explained by analyzing the relevant meteorological and surface variables. Over most of the source region, the annual emission fluxes in the "interstadial" experiment are 30 to 50% lower than the "stadial" values; they would only be about 20% lower if the inhibition of dust uplift by the vegetation were not taken into account. Assuming that lower emissions result in reduced dust deposition leads us to the conclusion that the loess–paleosol stratigraphic succession in the Stayky area reflects indeed North Atlantic millennial variations. In the main deflation areas of Western Europe, the vegetation effect alone determined most of the (~50% on average) stadial–interstadial flux differences. Even if its impact in Eastern Europe is less pronounced, this effect remains a key factor in modulating aeolian emissions at the millennial timescale. Conditions favorable to initiating particularly strong dust storms within a few hundred kilometers upwind from our reference site, simulated in the month of April of the H event experiment, support the correlation of H events with peaks in grain size index in some very detailed loess profiles, indicating increased coarse sedimentation.
Towards a quasi-complete reconstruction of past atmospheric aerosol load and composition (organic and inorganic) over Europe since 1920 inferred from Alpine ice cores
Authors: Preunkert S. , Legrand M.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. Seasonally resolved chemical ice core records available from the Col du Dôme glacier (4250 m elevation, French Alps), are here used to reconstruct past aerosol load and composition of the free European troposphere from before World War II to present. Available ice core records include inorganic (Na+, Ca2+, NH4+, Cl−, NO3−, and SO42−) and organic (carboxylates, HCHO, humic-like substances, dissolved organic carbon, water-insoluble organic carbon, and black carbon) compounds and fractions that permit reconstructing the key aerosol components and their changes over the past. It is shown that the atmospheric load of submicron aerosol has been increased by a factor of 3 from the 1921–1951 to 1971–1988 years, mainly as a result of a large increase of sulfate (a factor of 5), ammonium and water-soluble organic aerosol (a factor of 3). Thus, not only growing anthropogenic emissions of sulfur dioxide and ammonia have caused the enhancement of the atmospheric aerosol load but also biogenic emissions producing water-soluble organic aerosol. This unexpected change of biospheric source of organic aerosol after 1950 needs to be considered and further investigated in scenarios dealing with climate forcing by atmospheric aerosol.
A brief history of ice core science over the last 50 yr
Authors: Jouzel J.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. For about 50 yr, ice cores have provided a wealth of information about past climatic and environmental changes. Ice cores from Greenland, Antarctica and other glaciers, now emcompass a variety of timescales. However, the longer time scales (e.g. at least back to the Last Glacial period) are covered by deep ice cores the number of which is still very limited, seven from Greenland, with only one providing an undisturbed record of a part of the Last Interglacial Period, and a dozen from Antarctica with the longest record covering the last 800 000 yr. This article aims to summarize this successful adventure initiated by a few pioneers and their teams and to review key scientific results in focusing on climate (in particular water isotopes) and climate related (e.g. greenhouse gases) reconstructions. Future research is well taken into account by the four projects defined by IPICS. However it remains a challenge to get an intact record of the Last Interglacial in Greenland and to extend the Antarctic record through the mid-Pleistocene transition, if possible back to 1.5 Myr.
A spatial database of wildfires in the United States, 1992–2011
Authors: Short K. C.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. The statistical analysis of wildfire activity is a critical component of national wildfire planning, operations, and research in the United States (US). However, there are multiple federal, state, and local entities with wildfire protection and reporting responsibilities in the US, and no single, unified system of wildfire record-keeping exists. To conduct even the most rudimentary interagency analyses of wildfire numbers and area burned from the authoritative systems of record, one must harvest records from dozens of disparate databases with inconsistent information content. The onus is then on the user to check for and purge redundant records of the same fire (i.e. multijurisdictional incidents with responses reported by several agencies or departments) after pooling data from different sources. Here we describe our efforts to acquire, standardize, error-check, compile, scrub, and evaluate the completeness of US federal, state, and local wildfire records from 1992–2011 for the national, interagency Fire Program Analysis (FPA) application. The resulting FPA Fire-occurrence Database (FPA FOD) includes nearly 1.6 million records from the 20 yr period, with values for at least the following core data elements: location at least as precise as a Public Land Survey System section (2.6 km2 grid), discovery date, and final fire size. The FPA FOD is publicly available from the Research Data Archive of the US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (doi:10.2737/RDS-2013-0009). While necessarily incomplete in some aspects, the database is intended to facilitate fairly high-resolution geospatial analysis of US wildfire activity over the past two decades, based on available information from the authoritative systems of record.
Forecasts covering one month using a cut-cell model
Authors: Steppeler J. , Park S.-H. , Dobler A.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. This paper investigates the impact and potential use of the cut-cell vertical discretisation for forecasts covering five days and climate simulations. A first indication of the usefulness of this new method is obtained by a set of five-day forecasts, covering January 1989 with six forecasts. The model area was chosen to include much of Asia, the Himalayas and Australia. The cut-cell model LMZ (Lokal Modell with z-coordinates) provides a much more accurate representation of mountains on model forecasts than the terrain-following coordinate used for comparison. Therefore we are in particular interested in potential forecast improvements in the target area downwind of the Himalayas, over southeastern China, Korea and Japan. The LMZ has previously been tested extensively for one-day forecasts on a European area. Following indications of a reduced temperature error for the short forecasts, this paper investigates the model error for five days in an area influenced by strong orography. The forecasts indicated a strong impact of the cut-cell discretisation on forecast quality. The cut-cell model is available only for an older (2003) version of the model LM (Lokal Modell). It was compared using a control model differing by the use of the terrain-following coordinate only. The cut-cell model improved the precipitation forecasts of this old control model everywhere by a large margin. An improved, more transferable version of the terrain-following model LM has been developed since then under the name CLM (Climate version of the Lokal Modell). The CLM has been used and tested in all climates, while the LM was used for small areas in higher latitudes. The precipitation forecasts of the cut-cell model were compared also to the CLM. As the cut-cell model LMZ did not incorporate the developments for CLM since 2003, the precipitation forecast of the CLM was not improved in all aspects. However, for the target area downstream of the Himalayas, the cut-cell model considerably improved the prediction of the monthly precipitation forecast even in comparison with the modern CLM version. The cut-cell discretisation seems to improve in particular the localisation of precipitation, while the improvements leading from LM to CLM had a positive effect mainly on amplitude.
Chlorophyll increases off the coasts of Japan after the 2011 Tsunami using NASA/MODIS data
Authors: Sava E. , Edwards B. , Cervone G.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. Large chlorophyll anomalies are observed after the 2011 Japanese tsunami using the NASA MODIS instrument onboard the TERRA and AQUA satellites. These anomalies are observed both along the Eastern coast of Japan, where the tsunami wave hit with maximum force, and in the deep water surrounding the epicentral region. Although both satellites show agreeing spatio-temporal patterns, larger anomalies are detected using the AQUA satellite. A temporal analysis shows increased chlorophyll concentrations immediately after the tsunami, and higher values are observed for nearly 1 month before reversing to pre-tsunami levels.
Equilibrator-based measurements of dissolved nitrous oxide in the surface ocean using an integrated cavity output laser absorption spectrometer
Authors: Grefe I. , Kaiser J.
Published: July 2013

Abstract. A laser-based analyser for nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and water vapour was coupled to an equilibrator for continuous high-resolution dissolved gas measurements in the surface ocean. Results for nitrous oxide measurements from laboratory tests and field deployments are presented here. Short-term precision for 10 s-average N2O mole fractions at an acquisition rate of 1 Hz was better than 0.2 nmol mol−1 for standard gases and equilibrator measurements. The same precision was achieved for replicate standard gas analyses within 1 h of each other. The accuracy of the equilibrator measurements was verified by comparison with purge-and-trap GC-MS measurements of N2O concentrations in discrete samples from the Southern Ocean and showed agreement to within the 2% measurement uncertainty of the GC-MS method. Measured atmospheric N2O mole fractions agreed with AGAGE values to within 0.4%. The equilibrator response time to concentration changes in water was 142 to 203 s, depending on the headspace flow rate. The system was tested at sea during a north-to-south transect of the Atlantic Ocean. While the subtropical gyres were slightly undersaturated, the equatorial region was a source of nitrous oxide to the atmosphere. The ability to measure at high temporal and spatial resolution revealed sub-mesoscale variability in dissolved N2O concentrations. The magnitude of the observed saturation is in agreement with published data. Mean sea-to-air fluxes in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic ranged between −1.6 and 0.11 μmol m−2d−1 and confirm that the subtropical Atlantic is not an important source region for N2O to the atmosphere, compared to average global fluxes of 0.6 to 2.4 μmol m−2d−1. The system can be easily modified for autonomous operation on voluntary observing ships (VOS). Further work should include an interlaboratory comparison exercise with other methods of dissolved N2O analyses.
Marcellus Shale drilling and brominated THMs in Pittsburgh, Pa., drinking water
Authors: States Stanley , Cyprych Georgina , Stoner Mark , Wydra Faith , Kuchta John , Monnell Jason , Casson Leonard
Published: July 2013

In 2010 the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) observed a significant increase in the concentration of total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), especially brominated THM species, in its finished water. In an effort to explain these changes, PWSA and the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering investigated bromide concentrations in the Allegheny River (PWSA's source water) and THM formation in PWSA's drinking water. Results of the investigation indicated that elevated bromide concentrations in the source water were associated with increased concentrations of TTHMs, especially brominated THMs, in the drinking water. Additionally, a survey of the river system suggested that industrial wastewater treatment plants (brine plants) treating Marcellus Shale wastewater, as well as other wastewaters, were major contributors of bromide in the raw water. The study results also indicated that PWSA's conventional treatment process, which includes enhanced coagulation and secondary sedimentation, was ineffective at removing bromide from the source water. The increase in bromide concentrations in the Allegheny River system could affect the ability of conventional drinking water plants drawing water from this source to comply with the Stage 2 Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproducts Rule.
Parcel‐level modeling of end‐use water demands in public supply
Authors: Morales Miguel , Martin Jacqueline , Heaney James , Friedman Kenneth
Published: July 2013

Current methodologies to estimate urban water end uses are largely limited to macro‐level analyses that rely heavily on average values. These approaches might offer reasonable estimates in the aggregate, but they fail to differentiate between water users and end‐use devices. In order to target customers for water conservation, this article provides a methodology by which to carry out an end‐use inventory to arrive at the number, water use efficiency, and frequency of use of water end‐use devices at the parcel level for four single‐family, five multifamily, and 55 commercial, industrial, and institutional public supply sectors. Such a detailed inventory provides a better understanding of water use and facilitates the evaluation of savings and targeting of individual end‐use retrofits associated with water conservation practices based on cost‐effectiveness. The seven modeled end uses are male‐only toilets, mixed‐use toilets, urinals, faucets, showerheads, clothes washers, and prerinse spray valves.
Use of Vitamins and their Derivates in the Treatment of Cutaneous Disorders
Authors: Chiricozzi Andrea , Chimenti Maria Sole , Bavetta Mauro , Babino Graziella , Chimenti Sergio , Saraceno Rosita
Published: July 2013

Vitamins represent fundamental substrates for various physiologic functions occurring in human body. This review seeks to highlight their relevance in skin biology and to describe the cutaneous manifestations correlated with their deficiency.
Therapeutic Potential of the Natural Product Mangiferin in Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Mirza Raihan H. , Chi Nan , Chi Yuling
Published: July 2013

Natural products have long been and continue to be attractive source of nutritional and pharmacological therapeutics. Interest in natural compounds as potential therapies for metabolic syndrome have recently focused on hydroxylated aromatics, such as resveratrol. Another compound of interest in this regard is mangiferin, the predominant constituent of extracts of the mango plant Mangifera indica. Mangiferin has documented antioxidant, cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Recently, pilot studies indicate bioactivity of this compound in mediating insulin sensitivity and modulating lipid metabolism. In this review we provide information on what we know about the impact of mangiferin on important biological processes involved in metabolic disorders.
Nutrition, Exercise, and Pharmaceutical Therapies for Sarcopenic Obesity
Authors: Wakabayashi Hidetaka , Sakuma Kunihiro
Published: July 2013

Sarcopenia is characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, with a risk of adverse outcomes such as physical disability, poor quality of life, and death. Sarcopenic obesity is defined as having both sarcopenia and obesity, a condition reported to be associated with a higher risk for adverse outcomes including functional disability, frailty, poor quality of life, longer hospitalization, and higher mortality rates. The definition and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia have been described by several working groups on the disease; however, there is no standardized definition and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic obesity. In this review, we summarize nutrition, exercise, and pharmaceutical therapies for counteracting sarcopenic obesity in humans. Although there are some pharmaceutical therapies for both sarcopenia (i.e., testosterone, growth hormone, ghrelin, and vitamin D) and obesity (orlistat, lorcaserin, phentermine-topiramate, and vitamin D), therapies combining nutrition and exercise remain the first-line choice for preventing and treating sarcopenic obesity. Resistance training combined with supplements containing amino acids are considered most effective for treating sarcopenia. Low-calorie, high-protein diets combined with aerobic exercise and resistance training are recommended for preventing and treating obesity. Therefore, nutrition therapies (low-calorie, high-protein diets, protein and amino acid supplementation) and exercise therapies (resistance training and aerobic exercise) would be expected to be the most effective option for preventing and treating sarcopenic obesity. In cases of severe sarcopenic obesity or failure to achieve muscle gain and weight loss through nutrition and exercise therapies, it is necessary to add pharmaceutical therapies to treat the condition.
Nutrition and Intestinal Microflora
Authors: García-Elorriaga Guadalupe , Rey-Pineda Guillermo del
Published: July 2013

The intestinal microflora is a complex ecosystem composed of numerous genera, species and strains of bacteria. This enormous cell mass performs a variety of unique activities that affect both the colonic and systemic physiology. The gut is colonized by a small number of bacterial species; Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria spp. are seldom, if ever, identified. The predominant species are Enterococcus faecalis, E. coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus. Hygienic conditions and antimicrobial procedures strongly influence the intestinal colonization pattern. But, when large numbers of bacteria colonize the small intestine, a syndrome known as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) occurs. Nutrient malabsorption is a hallmark of the disorder and can result in a multitude of problems for the host. New links between SIBO and disease entities such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), provide intriguing new insights into the pathophysiology of the syndrome. On the other hand, in addition to its role in digestion of food in the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal microflora are also capable of biotransforming numerous drugs. Likewise, intestinal microflora may significantly modulate xenobiotic-induced toxicity by either metabolically activating or inactivating xenobiotics. We herewith present a review of the research on the importance of intestinal microflora and nutrition. Probiotics can introduce missing microbial components with known beneficial functions to the human host. Prebiotics can enhance the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms or probiotics, to maximize sustainable changes in the human microbiome. In addition, among the numerous purported health benefits attributed to probiotic bacteria, their capacity to interact with the host’s immune system is now supported by an increasing number of experiments. In addition to these, a few trials aimed at preventing chronic immune dysregulation have been reported. The identification of major immunomodulatory compounds in probiotics, and their interaction with immunocompetent cells as well as the role of secretory IgA in gut homeostasis are also evoked.
Trajectoires de pauvreté et monoparentalité : le Québec dans une perspective comparative
Authors: Raïq Hicham , Plante Charles
Published: July 2013

Le Québec a réalisé des progrès remarquables sur le plan de la lutte à la pauvreté chez les familles et particulièrement les monoparentales. Sur la dernière décennie, ses taux de pauvreté étaient souvent plus faibles que le reste du Canada. Le but de cet article est d’explorer une nouvelle approche longitudinale de la pauvreté pour voir si le Québec conserve toujours sa position de leader. Cette approche cherche à comprendre comment les familles québécoises peuvent être confrontées à la pauvreté dans leur parcours de vie. Nos résultats montrent que les familles monoparentales dans les autres principales provinces canadiennes ont été plus souvent touchées par des périodes de pauvreté entre 2002 et 2007 comparativement au Québec. Par contre, lorsque la pauvreté frappe ces ménages, le temps nécessaire pour remonter la pente est presque le même quelle que soit la province de résidence.
Les solidarités intergénérationnelles dans une perspective des parcours de vie
Authors: Fleury Charles
Published: July 2013

Cet article emprunte la perspective des parcours de vie pour montrer comment les solidarités intergénérationnelles peuvent contribuer à accroître les inégalités socio-économiques. Prenant le cas des immigrants portugais du Luxembourg, il montre que les contraintes héritées du passé, la multiplicité des rôles familiaux exercés, la bilocalisation des solidarités et l’interdépendance des vies individuelles engendrent des pratiques de solidarité financière particulières et contribuent à accroître les inégalités. Cette démonstration débouche sur une discussion à propos de la pertinence de la perspective des parcours de vie dans les discussions entourant les réformes des États-providence dans un contexte de vieillissement démographique et d’harmonisation des systèmes de sécurité sociale et des obligations familiales au sein de l’Union européenne.
Les politiques publiques au coeur des bifurcations individuelles1
Authors: Moulin Stéphane , Dupray Arnaud , D’Amour Raphaëlle
Published: July 2013

À partir d’une comparaison de l’enquête Génération 98 en France et de l’enquête de suivi auprès des diplômés au Canada, nous proposons une quantification des bifurcations professionnelles en début de vie active. Nous montrons que les bifurcations professionnelles des diplômés sortants du postsecondaire sont près d’1½ fois plus nombreuses au Canada qu’en France. Cette différence s’explique par des réorientations professionnelles plus fréquentes sur le marché du travail canadien que français, tandis que la capacité des formations à prédire les destinées professionnelles reste similaire dans les deux pays. L’analyse des ingrédients nationaux de ces bifurcations tend à montrer que les politiques publiques canadiennes conduisent à davantage de réorientations professionnelles que les politiques françaises, en favorisant le retour aux études et en creux compte tenu de statuts d’emploi proposés aux jeunes diplômés relativement moins protecteurs qu’en France. En sens inverse, les formations pour devenir enseignants et le passage par le doctorat accroissent les chances de bifurquer en France alors qu’ils les réduisent au Canada. Enfin, certains diplômés français réussissent à tirer parti de leur période de chômage pour entreprendre une réorientation professionnelle.
Entre l’effet tempo et l’effet quantum : une analyse de l’effet des politiques familiales sur la fécondité dans les pays avancés
Authors: Mathieu Sophie
Published: July 2013

Cet article s’inscrit dans la lignée des revues de littérature qui se penchent sur l’effet des politiques familiales sur la fécondité. L’article rappelle que les politiques peuvent 1) affecter lequantumdes naissances, 2) affecter letempodes naissances, 3) ne pas avoir d’effet sur la fécondité. Tout en démontrant l’effet hétérogène des politiques familiales sur la fécondité, l’auteure argue que les transferts monétaires (sous forme d’allocations et de crédits d’impôt) et les services de garde sont associés à un effetquantumsur les naissances, alors que les primes à la naissance semblent davantage provoquer un effettempo.L’effet des congés parentaux demeure incertain. L’article conclut en démontrant qu’au-delà de la conciliation travail-famille, c’est la marge de liberté que détiennent lesmèresface à l’obligation de prodiguer des soins, une idée conceptualisée sous le terme de « dématernalisation », qui influe le plus sur la fécondité.
Perspective des parcours de vie et sociologie de l’individuation
Authors: Carpentier Normand , White Deena
Published: July 2013

La perspective des parcours de vie est un ambitieux programme de recherche qui séduit un nombre grandissant de chercheurs dans les domaines des sciences sociales et humaines. Cette perspective tente d’organiser la complexité de la vie sociale en tenant compte de la temporalité, du contexte sociohistorique, des contraintes structurelles et des capacités actancielles (agency) des acteurs sociaux en situation d’interdépendance. L’engouement pour l’aspect conceptuel de cette perspective a été plus rarement accompagné par le développement de méthodes appropriées d’enquête qui rendent justice aux principes de la perspective des parcours de vie. Fervent promoteur de cette approche, Paul Bernard s’était depuis quelques années impliqué dans un projet utilisant une méthodologie mixte d’enquête, incluant des données des réseaux de différentes approches qualitatives. Nous chercherons dans cet article à soulever les enjeux reliés à l’application de la perspective des parcours de vie dans les enquêtes à petite échelle, en utilisant un devis longitudinal, tout en puisant des exemples dans une étude en cours portant sur le suivi longitudinal d’aidants des personnes atteintes de démence de type Alzheimer. De notre point de vue, la perspective des parcours de vie est un outil qui permet une alliance étroite entre la théorie et l’empirique tout en inspirant des innovations méthodologiques.
High MMP‐9 activity levels in fragile X syndrome are lowered by minocycline
Authors: Dziembowska Magdalena , Pretto Dalyir I. , Janusz Aleksandra , Kaczmarek Leszek , Leigh Mary Jacena , Gabriel Nielsen , Durbin‐Johnson Blythe , Hagerman Randi J. , Tassone Flora
Published: July 2013

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by lack of the FMR1 protein, FMRP, a translational repressor. Its absence leads to up‐regulation of locally translated proteins involved in synaptic transmission and plasticity, including the matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9). In the Fmr1 knock‐out (KO), a mouse model of FXS, an abnormal elevated expression of MMP‐9 in the brain was pharmacologically down‐regulated after treatment with the tetracycline derivative minocycline. Moreover, the rescue of immature dendritic spine morphology and a significant improvement of abnormal behavior were associated with down‐regulation of MMP‐9. Here, we report on high plasma activity of MMP‐9 in individuals with FXS. In addition, we investigate MMP‐9 changes in patients with FXS who have gone through a minocycline controlled clinical trial and correlate MMP‐9 activity to clinical observations. The results of this study suggest that, in humans, activity levels of MMP‐9 are lowered by minocycline and that, in some cases, changes in MMP‐9 activity are positively associated with improvement based on clinical measures. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ultrasonic treatment of polyacrylic acid sodium/NaA zeolite hybrid membranes for the pervaporation dehydration of ethanol
Authors: Wei Ping , Qu Xin Ying , Dong Hang , Zhang Lin , Chen Huanlin , Gao Congjie
Published: July 2013

Ultrasonics was used to improve the dispersion of NaA zeolite in polyacrylic acid sodium (PAAS) membranes. The effect of ultrasonication time on the dispersion of NaA zeolite in the membranes, the membrane structure, and performance were investigated. The casting solution and resulting membranes were characterized by viscosity measurement, polarizing optical microscopy (POM), scanning electron microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). With increasing ultrasonication time, the viscosity of the casting solution decreased as the chain entanglements decreased. The POM and XRD results showed that crystallization occurred in the PAAS membrane after ultrasonic processing. A more homogeneous morphology was obtained due to improvement in the dispersion of zeolite under ultrasonic treatment for 0.5–1.0 h. As a result, the separation performance was enhanced. The water/ethanol separation factor increased from 176.2 to 577.8. However, the relative separation factor decreased when the ultrasonic time exceeded 2.5 h, due to the appearance of a lamellar structure. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3979–3984, 2013
New Dual Donor–Acceptor (2D‐π‐2A) Porphyrin Sensitizers for Stable and Cost‐Effective Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Ambre Ram B. , Chang Gao‐Fong , Zanwar Manoj R. , Yao Ching‐Fa , Diau Eric Wei‐Guang , Hung Chen‐Hsiung
Published: July 2013

A series of porphyrin sensitizers that featured two electron‐donating groups and dual anchoring groups that were connected through a porphine π‐bridging unit have been synthesized and successfully applied in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The presence of electron‐donating groups had a significant influence on their spectroscopic, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties. Overall, the dual anchoring groups gave tunable electronic properties and stronger attachment to TiO2. These new dyes were readily synthesized in a minimum number of steps in gram‐scale quantities. Optical and electrochemical data confirmed the advantages of these dyes for use as sensitizers in DSSCs. Porphyrins with electron‐donating amino moieties provided improved charge separation and better charge‐injection efficiencies for the studied dual‐push–pull dyes. Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier‐transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the porphyrin dyes on TiO2 suggest that both p‐carboxyphenyl groups are attached onto TiO2, thereby resulting in strong attachment. Among these dyes, cis-Zn2BC2A, with two electron‐donating 3,6‐ditertbutyl‐phenyl‐carbazole groups and dual‐anchoring p‐carboxyphenyl groups, showed the highest efficiency of 4.07 %, with JSC=9.81 mA cm−2, VOC=0.63 V, and FF=66 %. Our results also indicated a better photostability of the studied dual‐anchored sensitizers compared to their mono‐anchored analogues under identical conditions. These results provide insight into the developments of a new generation of high‐efficiency and thermally stable porphyrin sensitizers.
Identifying the Effects of Unjustified Confidence versus Overconfidence: Lessons Learned from Two Analytic Methods
Authors: Parker Andrew M. , Stone Eric R.
Published: July 2013

One of the most common findings in behavioral decision research is that people have unrealistic beliefs about how much they know. However, demonstrating that misplaced confidence exists does not necessarily mean that there are costs to it. This paper contrasts two approaches toward answering whether misplaced confidence is good or bad, which we have labeled the overconfidence and unjustified confidence approach. We first consider conceptual and analytic issues distinguishing these approaches. Then, we provide findings from a set of simulations designed to determine when the approaches produce different conclusions across a range of possible confidence–knowledge–outcome relationships. Finally, we illustrate the main findings from the simulations with three empirical examples drawn from our own data. We conclude that the unjustified confidence approach is typically the preferred approach, both because it is appropriate for testing a larger set of psychological mechanisms as well as for methodological reasons. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring the potential to use data linkage for investigating the relationship between birth defects and prenatal alcohol exposure
Authors: O'Leary Colleen M. , Elliott Elizabeth J. , Nassar Natasha , Bower Carol
Published: July 2013

BACKGROUND

This study explores the potential of data linkage to investigate the proportion of birth defects classified as alcohol‐related (ARBD) by the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) that are attributable to maternal alcohol‐use disorder.

METHODS

Maternal alcohol‐use disorder was identified using International Classification of Diseases (9th and 10th revision) codes for alcohol‐related diagnoses recorded on record‐linked Western Australian health, mental health, and/or drug and alcohol datasets 1983 to 2007. Children of these mothers (n = 23,859) were compared with a randomly selected cohort of children born to mothers without an alcohol diagnosis, frequency‐matched by maternal age, Aboriginal status, and child's birth year (n = 61,370). Birth defects were identified through linkage with the Western Australian Register of Developmental Anomalies and defects with chromosomal causes were excluded. Associations between overall and individual IOM‐designated ARBD and a maternal alcohol‐related diagnosis recorded “during pregnancy” or “any” diagnosis (before/during/after pregnancy) was assessed using multivariate logistic regression to generate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Population‐attributable fractions were calculated for significant results using total population numbers.

RESULTS

There was a significant association between maternal alcohol‐related diagnoses recorded during pregnancy and ARBD (adjusted odds ratio, 3.14; 95% confidence interval, 2.49–3.96), with an attributable fraction of 0.57%. “Any” maternal alcohol diagnosis demonstrated a higher attributable fraction for ARBD (1.53%), with the highest attributable fractions for microcephaly (7.31%), ptosis (3.75%), atrial septal defect (2.86%), and conotruncal heart defects (2.01%).

CONCLUSION

Research using linked, population‐based administrative health data has the potential to advance knowledge of ARBD. Routine collection and recording of alcohol use during pregnancy for all pregnant women is required and would enhance this methodology. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 97:497–504, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical prevalence of palmaris longus agenesis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yammine Kaissar
Published: July 2013

We report a systematic review and a proportion meta‐analysis of prevalence studies evaluating the prevalence of palmaris longus agenesis (PLA) in the literature. The overall PLA rate was defined to be the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were rates of PLA in relation to ethnicity, laterality, side, gender, age, and hand dominance. We identified 26 articles which met the inclusion criteria. Meta‐analyses showed an overall PLA pooled rate of 20.25%, higher than the commonly reported overall rate of 15%. Our results also showed significantly lower pooled rates in Africans (11.3%) and East Asians (4.5%) when compared to Arab Middle Eastern population (41.7%). A subgroup analysis of the African group showed a pooled rate of 2.71%, the lowest, in the East and South East African population. The pooled rate was 26.3% among Caucasians, 26.16% among South and Southeast Asians and 34.13% among Turkish. In discordance with the literature, PLA was statistically more predominant on the right side. No significant differences in PLA rates were found for laterality, gender, the combination of gender and side or the combination of gender and laterality. The lowest rate of PLA found in East and South East African populations might be indicative of the subsequent phylogenetic degeneration of the palmaris longus muscle in modern humans after the “Out of Africa” migration. Clin. Anat. 26:709–718, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Phage Display to Identify Nedd8‐Mimicking Peptides as Inhibitors of the Nedd8 Transfer Cascade
Authors: Zhao Bo , Zhang Keya , Villhauer Eric B. , Bhuripanyo Karan , Kiyokawa Hiroaki , Schindelin Hermann , Yin Jun
Published: July 2013

The Nedd8 activating enzyme (NAE) launches the transfer of the ubiquitin‐like protein Nedd8 through an enzymatic cascade to covalently modify a diverse array of proteins, thus regulating their biological functions in the cell. The C‐terminal peptide of Nedd8 extends deeply into the active site of NAE and plays an important role in the specific recognition of Nedd8 by NAE. We used phage display to profile C‐terminal mutant sequences of Nedd8 that could be recognized by NAE for the activation reaction. We found that NAE can accommodate diverse changes in the Nedd8 C‐terminal sequence (71LALRGG76), including Arg and Ile replacing Leu71, Leu, Ser, and Gln replacing Ala72, and substitutions by bulky aromatic residues at positions 73 and 74. We also observed that short peptides corresponding to the C‐terminal sequences of the Nedd8 variants can be activated by NAE to form peptide∼NAE thioester conjugates. Once NAE is covalently loaded with these Nedd8‐mimicking peptides, it can no longer activate full‐length Nedd8 for transfer to the neddylation targets, such as the cullin subunits of cullin‐RING E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs). We have thus developed a new method to inhibit protein neddylation by Nedd8‐mimicking peptides.
Possible correlations between the deficient affective experience and negative symptoms of psychosis: An exploratory study in (forensic) psychiatric patients
Authors: Goethals Kris , Van Giels Maarten , Ekiz Erol , Van Marle Hjalmar
Published: July 2013

Background

Deficient affective experience (DAE), the affective and perhaps fundamental component of psychopathy, has some resemblance to the core affective disturbances of schizophrenia. There has, however, been little attempt to test relationships between these concepts, but this could be useful because of the high prevalence of schizophrenia among people in forensic mental health services and evidence that the DAE may be a useful predictor of violent behaviour.

Aims

Our primary aim was to explore possible correlations between DAE and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and to test the hypotheses that the DAE would differentiate people with and without personality disorder co‐morbidity in a sample with psychosis and, separately, people with main diagnoses of personality disorder or schizophrenia.

Method

On the basis of an interview and a review of institutional files, DAE total and facet scores were calculated and compared with scores on the negative symptom scale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale among forensic and general psychiatric patients. Partial correlation and rank order coefficients were calculated.

Results

We found no correlation between total DAE scores and total negative Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores among patients with psychosis, suggesting that the concepts probably do not overlap. Our hypotheses on diagnostic associations with the DAE were partially sustained. DAE scores differentiated psychosis and personality disorder groups but did not differentiate psychosis groups with and without personality pathology.

Conclusions and implications

This study, using typical clinical samples, suggested that one aspect of the affective disturbance of schizophrenia has little in common with the deficient emotional experience of psychopath. Measurement of DAE is unlikely to help detect co‐morbid personality disorder among people with psychosis, but given our small sample size and the rarity of study in this field, further research would be warranted, perhaps also including a measure of incongruity of affect. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.