bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the High Prevalence of Diabetes in U.S. South Asians Compared With Four Racial/Ethnic Groups: The MASALA and MESA Studies
Authors: Kanaya Alka M. , Herrington David , Vittinghoff Eric , Ewing Susan K. , Liu Kiang , Blaha Michael J. , Dave Swapna S. , Qureshi Fareeha , Kandula Namratha R.
Published: April 2014

OBJECTIVE

We compared South Asians with four other racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. to determine whether sociodemographic, lifestyle, or metabolic factors could explain the higher diabetes prevalence and whether insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction occurred at younger ages and/or lower adiposity levels compared with other groups.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of two community-based cohorts, the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA); all participants had no known cardiovascular disease and were between 44 and 84 years of age. We compared 799 South Asians with 2,611 whites, 1,879 African Americans, 1,493 Latinos, and 801 Chinese Americans. Type 2 diabetes was classified by fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL or use of a diabetes medication. Insulin resistance was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and β-cell function was measured by the HOMA-β model.

RESULTS

South Asians had significantly higher age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes (23%) than the MESA ethnic groups (6% in whites, 18% in African Americans, 17% in Latinos, and 13% in Chinese Americans). This difference increased further after adjustment for potential confounders. HOMA of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were significantly higher and HOMA-β levels were lower among South Asians compared with all other racial/ethnic groups after adjustment for age and adiposity.

CONCLUSIONS

The higher prevalence of diabetes in South Asians is not explained by traditionally measured risk factors. South Asians may have lower β-cell function and an inability to compensate adequately for higher glucose levels from insulin resistance.
Trends in Incidence of Diabetes in Pregnancy and Serious Perinatal Outcomes: A Large, Population-Based Study in Ontario, Canada, 1996–2010
Authors: Feig Denice S. , Hwee Jeremiah , Shah Baiju R. , Booth Giliian L. , Bierman Arlene S. , Lipscombe Lorraine L.
Published: April 2014

OBJECTIVE

Women with diabetes in pregnancy have high rates of pregnancy complications. Our aims were to explore trends in the incidence of diabetes in pregnancy and examine whether the risk of serious perinatal outcomes has changed.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We performed a population-based cohort study of 1,109,605 women who delivered in Ontario, Canada, between 1 April 1996 and 31 March 2010. We categorized women as gestational diabetes (GDM) (n = 45,384), pregestational diabetes (pre-GDM) (n = 13,278), or no diabetes (n = 1,050,943). The annual age-adjusted rates of diabetes in pregnancy were calculated, and rates of serious perinatal outcomes were compared between groups and by year using Poisson regression.

RESULTS

The age-adjusted rate of both GDM (2.7–5.6%, P < 0.001) and pre-GDM (0.7–1.5%, P < 0.001) doubled from 1996 to 2010. The rate of congenital anomalies declined by 23%, whereas the rate of perinatal mortality did not change significantly. However, compared with women with no diabetes, women with pre-GDM and GDM faced an increased risk of congenital anomalies (relative risk 1.86 [95% CI 1.49–2.33] and 1.26 [1.09–1.45], respectively), and perinatal mortality remained elevated in women with pre-GDM (2.33 [1.59–3.43]).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of both GDM and pre-GDM in pregnancy has doubled over the last 14 years, and the overall burden of diabetes in pregnancy on society is growing. Although congenital anomaly rates have declined in women with diabetes, perinatal mortality rates remain unchanged, and the risk of both remains significantly elevated compared with nondiabetic women. Increased efforts are needed to reduce these adverse outcomes.
Biocatalytic designs for the conversion of renewable glycerol into glycerol carbonate as a value-added product
Authors: Tudorache Madalina , Ghemes George , Nae Andreea , Matei Elena , Mercioniu Ionel , Kemnitz Erhard , Ritter Benjamin , Coman Simona , Parvulescu Vasile
Published: April 2014

A comparative study of two different biocatalytic models, e.g. enzyme immobilized on magnetic particles (EIMP) and cross-linking enzyme aggregates onto magnetic particles (CLEMPA) was performed. The first model was designed as enzyme-immobilized on the magnetic particles surface (EIMP). The second model was constructed as a network structure with the enzyme aggregates and magnetic particles placed into the nodes and polyglutaraldehyde cross-linker as the network ledges. The design was called cross-linking enzyme aggregates onto magnetic particles (CLEMPA). The biocatalysts were prepared using lipase enzyme from Aspergillus niger for catalyzing the glycerol (Gly) conversion to glycerol carbonate (GlyC). The biocatalyst characteristics for both designs (EIMP and CLEMPA) were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser light scattering (LLS) and UV-Vis techniques. The EIMP model was strongly influenced by the composition of the polymeric layer covering the particles surface, while the size of the magnetic particles affected mostly the CLEMPA design. Also, the biocatalytic capacity of the tested models was evaluated as maximum 52% Gly conversion with 90% GlyC selectivity for EIMP, and 73% Gly conversion with 77% GlyC selectivity for CLEMPA. Both biocatalytic models were successfully used to prepare GlyC from “crude” glycerol collected directly from the biodiesel process (e.g. 49% Gly conversion with 91% GlyC selectivity for EIMP and 70% Gly conversion with 80% GlyC selectivity for CLEMPA).
Estimation of effect of breeding bulls and genetic parameters on early growth performance of calves at farm and field levels
Authors: Islam S , Hoque MA , Khandoker MAMY , Saha NG , Akhtar A
Published: April 2014

The present study was conducted using records on four breeding bulls maintained at the Artificial Insemination (AI) Center of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh and on 154 of their progeny maintained at BAU Dairy Farm (112) and some villages (42 progeny) adjacent to BAU for estimating the effect of breeding bulls and genetic parameters on early growth performance of the progeny at farm and field levels. Genetic correlations between traits of bulls and their progeny were also estimated. Bull traits were metabolic body weight (MWT), feed intake (FI) and residual feed intake (RFI) where progeny traits were birth weight (BWT), final body weight (FWT) at 90 days of age and average daily gain (ADG). Mean BWT of progeny at farm and field level was 16.34±1.85 to 17.62±1.97 kg and 13.89±2.78 to 16.11±2.98 kg, respectively. The FWT at farm progeny was 48.9±2.87 to 55.67±2.14 kg whereas 43.43±2.50 to 52.22±3.34 kg for field progeny. The ADG at farm and field progeny was 0.36±0.03 to 0.43±0.01 and 0.32±0.03 to 0.42±0.03 kg, respectively. The BWT and FWT of farm progeny were significantly (p>0.05) higher than the progeny of field level. Breeding bulls had significant (p<0.05) effect on FWT and ADG for both of the farm and field progeny. Estimated heritability was found to be moderate in case of BWT (0.32±0.19), but low for FWT (0.26±0.18) and ADG (0.29±0.20) for pooled average. The genetic correlation between bulls MWT and BWT was high (rg=0.54±0.17), but low with FWT(rg=0.26±0.18) and ADG (rg=0.28±0.23). Moderate in daily FI of bulls was genetically correlated with BWT (0.45±0.22), FWT (0.38±0.24) and ADG (0.35±0.25) for their progeny, while low but favorable negative genetic correlation (rg=-0.13±0.17) was observed between ADG of progeny and RFI of bulls. The negative correlation for RFI with ADG suggested that selection might result in better success in improving herd production efficiency without compromising progeny growth performance. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v42i2.18484 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2013. 42 (2): 81-88
Study on buck evaluation based on semen quality and fertility
Authors: Sultana F , Husain SS , Khatun A , Apu AS , Khandoker MAMY
Published: April 2014

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of buck on the basis of semen quality and fertility. Data on 162 ejaculates from five adult Black Bengal bucks (B1, B2, B3, B4 and B5) were recorded. Individual buck effect was found to be significant on semen volume (p<0.05), three stages of sperm motility (p<0.01) and percentage of live sperm (p<0.01) but insignificant (p>0.05) on sperm concentration and percentage of normal sperm. The results of semen volume per ejaculate, sperm concentration, initial sperm motility, on dilution sperm motility, post-thawing sperm motility, percentage of live sperm and percentage of normal sperm were ranged from 0.58±0.17 to 1.04±1.1 ml, 2827±0.76 to 3132
Effect of different levels of saturated solution of calcium chloride in the preparation of calcium salt of fatty acid and its effect on rumen protozoa, pH and ammonia nitrogen
Authors: Meraj MMR , Khan MAS , Rakhi TA , Sarker NR
Published: April 2014

Calcium salt of fatty acid was prepared by adding 3 different levels of saturated solution of calcium chloride (CaCl2) to soybean oil. It was found that fat content was not significantly affected by calcium chloride. However, calcium chloride had significant effect on other parameters like dry matter, fat, ash and sodium. The highest calcium and fat was obtained when 3.5 parts CaCl2 were added (p<0.01). It was also observed that sun drying and drying at room temperature had no significant effect on any parameter except dry matter content. Calcium salt of fatty acid had significant anti-protozoal effect (p<0.01) in sheep. Treated group showed reduced protozoal number without affecting the rumen pH and rumen ammonia nitrogen. It was also found that the number of rumen protozoa in rumen liquor was less at 12:00 p.m. than that at 3:30 p.m. when sheep were fed 3% calcium salt. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v42i2.18489Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2013. 42 (2): 109-113
Comparison of broiler performance using Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.), Bio-Sel-E and commercial diet
Authors: Chacrabati R , Chowdhury R , Yesmin S , Sano H , Al-Mamun M
Published: April 2014

An experiment was conducted to determine the impact of Plantain (PL), Bio-Sel-E and commercial broiler diet on the growth performance, feed conversion ratio, performance index and carcass yield of broiler. A total of 160 day old broiler chicks (Cobb-500) were randomly distributed into four groups with four replication in each group and having 10 birds in each replication. Basal diet was used for group 1 (control), Basal diet was supplemented with PL (0.5% of DM basis) and Bio-Sel-E (5g/50 birds in drinking water) for group 2 and 3 respectively and for group 4 used commercial broiler diet (Quality Feed Ltd.). Total feed intake was similar among the groups. Feed conversion ratios of PL diet, Bio-Sel-E diet, and commercial broiler diet were comparable, and were lower (P<0.05) than the control diet. Significantly higher body weight gain and performance index were found in PL, Bio-Sel-E and commercial broiler diet groups than control diet. The dressing yield of PL diet and commercial broiler diet were comparable, and they were higher (P<0.05) than Control diet and Bio-Sel-E diet. It could be concluded that the Supplementation of 0.5% PL in the diet had positive effect on growth, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, performance index and carcass characteristics of broilers almost similar of Bio-Sel-E and commercial broiler diet. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v42i2.18492 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2013. 42 (2): 123-130
Present status of conservation and management of sea turtle in Coxs Bazar district of Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain MA , Miah MI , Hasan KR , Bornali JJ , Shahjahan M
Published: April 2014

The study was conducted to know the present status of conservation and management of sea turtle in Coxs Bazar district. Data were collected by physical survey, interviewing people of the study area and from different non-government and government organizations during December 2010 to November 2011. In the present study, it was found that two species of sea turtles have been making nest in Bangladesh. Major nesting sites of turtles were St. Martin's Island, Teknaf, Bordal, Sonadia Island, Kutubdia Island, Pechardwip, Inani Beach, Moheskhali Island and Shahporirdwip. A total of 260 turtle individuals were found and the highest nesting frequency of Olive ridley (108) and Green turtles (10) were observed in February. About 21,942 hatchlings were produced and released by the hatcheries as a conservational step. Winter season was identified as nesting season for sea turtle. About 45% of the respondents thought that turtles were beneficial while other 40% of the respondents thought turtles were harmful. It was found that the nesting of sea turtles was reducing and there was lack of knowledge among the people of the study area about the importance of sea turtle conservation and management. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v42i2.18493 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2013. 42 (2): 131-138
Socio-economic status of buffalo farmers and the management practices of buffaloes in selected areas of Bagerhat District of Bangladesh
Authors: Sarkar S , Hossain MM , Amin MR
Published: April 2014

The study was conducted to investigate the socio-economic status of the buffalo farmers and the management practices of buffaloes at different villages of Boraikhali, Hoglabunia and Khawlia union of Morrelgonj upazilla in Bagerhat district of Bangladesh. A total of 60 respondents (20 from each union) were randomly selected from three unions. The data was collected through personal interviewing with pre-tested questioner. The investigation revealed that buffalo rearing was practiced by the middle (30-40 years) and old (>40 years) aged farmers than the young (<30 years). Majority (82%) of the buffalo farmers are educated but only 12% are illiterate. The major occupation of the selected farmers are buffalo rearing (50%) followed by crop production, dairying and poultry rearing. The buffalo farmers basically have no training skills but practiced buffalo rearing as their family profession and 30% of them are influenced by the neighboring buffalo farmers. The buffalo farmers purchased usually one pair of buffalo and reared at least for 2 years. The farmers fed their buffalos with locally available roughages and tree leaves but they did not practice concentrate feeding. The CP contents of the available feedstuffs are comparable and even higher and the CF content was found lower compared to other unconventional feedstuffs indicated the availability of good quality feeds for buffaloes in the studied areas. Semi-intensive feeding system was practiced for rearing buffaloes followed by extensive feeding system. Majority of the buffalo farmers allowed wallowing buffaloes for once or twice in a day for at least 1-2 hours. The major diseases of buffaloes found in the studied areas were foot and mouth followed by black quarter, anthrax and hemorrhagic septicemia. Most of the buffalo farmers practiced vaccination and de-worming regularly. The average cost of one pair of buffalo was 60000-200000 BDT. The annual total cost of production was Tk 5,070, while a gross return was Tk 15,630 per buffalo. The annual food and cloth purchasing capacity of the buffalo farmers were found to be increased to 62.85 and 58.33%, respectively. Similarly, the ability to maintain social status, health care, education and housing of the buffalo farmers were also increased through buffalo rearing. Considering all this parameters related to livelihood, it was clearly found that the socio-economic status of the buffalo farmers was improved through buffalo rearing although the management practices need to be improved with scientific approaches. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v42i2.18505 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2013. 42 (2): 158-164
Comparative study of the egg quality of Bhutanese indigenous strains reared under different production systems
Authors: Dorji N
Published: April 2014

A total of 68 Bhutanese indigenous chicken eggs were collected from Research station (imitating improved management) and villages (farmers management) to estimate the egg quality. The weight of eggs sampled from Research farm was comparatively heavier (50.63g ± 5.04) than the extensive farmers system (45.94 ± 5.68). The yolk index was higher (39.85%±5.69) in village management than that of improved management (41.93% ±
Un animal comme bord autistique
Authors: Maleval Jean-Claude
Published: April 2014

Quand George élut un chat pour objet autistique, sa mère constata rapidement une spectaculaire sortie de son enfermement. L’animal et l’enfant développèrent un étonnant attachement spéculaire l’un à l’autre. George inventa un « parler-chat » qui lui permit d’échanger verbalement avec ses proches. Par l’entremise de l’animal diverses acquisitions devinrent possibles. La disparition temporaire du chat entraîna le retour du retrait autistique attestant ainsi de la fonction capitale du bord pour les progrès de Georges. Ce récit confirme l’importance du respect des inventions singulières des autistes pour obtenir des effets thérapeutiques décisifs.
Le corps de l'autiste
Authors: Grollier Michel
Published: April 2014

Avoir un corps, pour un sujet humain, nécessite la dimension du « symbolique ». Si la chair, dans ce que la science repère comme anatomie, physiologie ou biologie, pèse sur le sujet, l’aliénation au signifiant, instituant la possibilité d’un ordre symbolique, est ce qui permet de présenter, présentifier, l’être dans le (un) monde. Dans l’autisme, il y a arrêt devant l’aliénation symbolique, un arrêt qui discrédite les objets du lien, lien à l’Autre, que sont, notamment, voix et regard. Mais, comme pour tout petit d’homme, l’autiste va chercher une voie pour apaiser cet univers et l’humaniser par une action symbolisante, un battement, puis une articulation, qui prendra appui sur des objets divers. Des objets élus à cette place si spéciale qui articule l’être à sa présence dans le monde. Cette stratégie du signe ne s’oppose pas au passage par le signifiant, un signifiant toujours étranger, articulé, rabouté à l’être par un objet qui va, lui, faire lien dans une aliénation singulière. Nous vérifierons ainsi que l’autiste peut se faire une sorte de corps, voire user de la parole, pour construire un lien, mais dans un rapport à une langue qui sera toujours une langue étrangère.
Pertinences de l'approche clinique de la « psychose ordinaire » pour la direction de la cure. Illustration par un cas
Authors: Perrin Myriam
Published: April 2014

S’appuyant sur de récents travaux en recherches psychanalytiques, l’auteur définit la spécificité de la clinique contemporaine, celle de la psychose ordinaire, en expose les caractéristiques diagnostiques, notamment en se référant aux travaux sur la mélancolie, et met en avant la pertinence de son abord clinique pour une direction de la cure, orientée de sa particularité. En effet, si Lacan a ouvert une perspective contemporaine avec « la clinique des nœuds », permettant notamment une nouvelle orientation, quant à la direction du traitement des psychoses, la clinique de type roseau , définie par J.-A. Miller, propose une lecture clinique des phénomènes discrets, et une orientation rigoureuse du traitement. Le traitement de la dépression de Mme L. vient illustrer la pertinence de cette démarche clinique.
Stratégies de gestion identitaire et modes de structuration de groupes de supporters : étude exploratoire dans le rugby français Élite
Authors: Bernache-Assollant Iouri , Bouchet Patrick , Lacassagne Marie-Françoise
Published: April 2014

L’analyse des stratégies développées par les supporters, suite à des performances d’équipes sportives (par exemple, MATing , blasting et boosting ), est un thème qui a été presque exclusivement étudié dans un contexte nord-américain. L’objectif de cette étude exploratoire est de montrer, dans le contexte spécifique du rugby français, que ces stratégies, généralement attribuées aux niveaux d’identification aux équipes, peuvent être, également, dépendantes des modes de structuration des groupes : soit de type « ultra » (caractérisé principalement par une volonté d’autonomisation positive vis-à-vis des autres groupes du club, associé à des normes élitistes et compétitives, en lien avec la supra catégorie), soit de type « traditionnel » (sans revendication spécifique de l’identité propre du groupe de supporters, par rapport aux autres groupes co-présents). Dans ce but, 176 supporters d’équipes du championnat français Élite ont été sollicités (87 supporters supposés ultras et 89 traditionnels). Le mode de structuration de ces groupes a été analysé (phase 1) et, dans l’ensemble, confirmé. Les résultats sur les stratégies (phase 2)montrent que les supporters ultras admettent vouloir rentrer davantage en confrontation avec les supporters adverses (c’est-à-dire, blasting ) et revendiquent davantage leur lien à l’équipe (c’est-à-dire, MATing ), que les supporters traditionnels, quel que soit le résultat du match. De plus, la stratégie de blasting est davantage utilisée par les ultras, suite aux défaites qu’aux victoires de leur équipe. Les limites et perspectives de ce travail exploratoire concluent cet article.
Jeu du foulard et anxiété : braver l'interdit, faire face au danger
Authors: Pelladeau Élise , Coslin Pierre G.
Published: April 2014

Cette étude a pour objet la concurrence entre l’anxiété et la pratique du jeu du foulard chez dix collégiens reconnaissant s’y adonner, cinq garçons et cinq filles, âgés de 13 à 15 ans. Elle se fonde sur un entretien directif, portant sur le poids de l’interdit et de la dangerosité perçue, et le caractère auto-calmant du jeu, en relation avec l’anxiété des pratiquants (12 thèmes abordés, à partir de 18 questions). Les résultats permettent de constater 1 o que cette pratique est généralement accompagnée d’une conscience plus ou moins explicite de l’interdit et du danger associés à ce jeu, 2 o qu’elle revêt, pour la plupart des jeunes, un caractère auto-calmant et 3 o que les pratiquants présentent fréquemment un tableau anxieux particulièrement prononcé.
Considérations sur le déclenchement de l'activité délirante telle qu'elle apparaît dans les écrits de Jean-Pierre Brisset, « prince des penseurs »
Authors: Martin-Mattera Patrick , Guérin Vincent
Published: April 2014

Le « cas » de Jean-Pierre Brisset, écrivain paraphrène « sacré » en 1913 « prince des penseurs » par Jules Romains et ses « copains », a été étudié sous ses facettes psychiatrique et historique, littéraire, linguistique et philosophique. Mais les aspects précis de son histoire qui expliqueraient le déclenchement tardif de son délire restent pourtant encore relativement méconnus. Dans ce texte les auteurs répertorient les hypothèses déjà formulées et tentent d’en déployer de nouvelles. Cet article contribue à la compréhension des processus psychiques en cause dans le déclenchement des pathologies psychotiques.
Les jardins partagés franciliens, scènes de participation citoyenne ?
Authors: Demailly Kaduna-Eve
Published: April 2014

Depuis le début des années 2000, les jardins partagés se sont considérablement développés dans la région francilienne avec l’appui des municipalités. Espaces de proximité gérés par une association, ils visent à favoriser le développement d’une présence végétale urbaine, la création de liens sociaux et une démarche participative des habitants. Le but de cet article, qui s’intéresse spécifiquement aux jardins partagés installés sur des friches urbaines, est d’interroger différentes acceptions de la notion de participation afin d’évaluer le rôle effectif des membres des jardins partagés. Une participation des usagers, qui en définitive, se limite souvent à la gestion et à l’animation du site.
Une « banlieue créative » dans le Grand Paris ?
Authors: Lebeau Boris
Published: April 2014

Le projet de « territoire de la culture et de la création » porté par la communauté d’agglomération Plaine Commune dans le cadre du Grand Paris constitue une déclinaison tout à fait originale du concept de « ville créative » dans le cadre d’une banlieue pauvre. En assimilant la marginalité sociale à la créativité, ses concepteurs nous interrogent sur la place que pourraient à l’avenir occuper ces quartiers populaires dans le cadre d’une économie culturelle et créative. En démêlant ce qui relève du politique, du marketing territorial et du fonctionnement socio-économique du territoire, nous tenterons d’examiner quelle peut être la portée d’une telle proposition.
Les petites villes, de nouveaux centres pour le développement territorial chinois
Authors: Milhaud Stéphane
Published: April 2014

Depuis l’ouverture économique de la Chine en 1978, ce sont plus de 15 millions de nouveaux citadins que les villes accueillent chaque année. La progression du taux d'urbanisation est exceptionnelle : de 17,9 % en 1978 à 49,9 % en 2010. Quels sont les impacts de l’ampleur de cette urbanisation sur l’armature urbaine ? Cet article s’intéresse au cas de la province du Zhejiang, située au sud de Shanghai, dont le taux d’urbanisation a augmenté sur cette période de 13,7 à 61,6 %. Entre la formation de régions métropolitaines concentrant population et activités économiques et caractérisées par de fortes densités humaines, et le scénario soutenu par le gouvernement de leur répartition plus équilibrée sur le territoire, ce texte analyse l’évolution de la distribution des villes et la forme du développement régional dans cette province riche du littoral.
Les mobilités domicile-travail dans les réseaux d’agglomérations
Authors: Gingembre Julien , Baude John
Published: April 2014

La distorsion spatiale entre lieux d’habitat et de travail a intensifié les mobilités entre agglomérations. Les réseaux qu’elles composent traduisent certes les liens entre les métropoles régionales et leurs pôles satellites mais aussi les échanges qui se développent entre grandes agglomérations ou entre petits pôles urbains. Ces réseaux épousent peu ou prou le contour des pôles métropolitains. Les cadres sont les plus surreprésentés dans ces différents flux domicile-travail. Une modélisation économétrique à partir de données du recensement montre qu’ils sont les moins sensibles à la distance, et que la taille du marché du travail ne crée pas d’incitation particulière à leur mobilité sauf dans les déplacements entre grandes agglomérations.
Human Procaspase-1 Variants with Decreased Enzymatic Activity Are Associated with Febrile Episodes and May Contribute to Inflammation via RIP2 and NF-κB Signaling
Authors: Heymann Michael C. , Winkler Stefan , Luksch Hella , Flecks Silvana , Franke Marcus , Ruß Susanne , Özen Seza , Yilmaz Engin , Klein Christoph , Kallinich Tilmann , Lindemann Dirk , Brenner Sebastian , Ganser Gerd , Roesler Joachim , Rösen-Wolff Angela , Hofmann Sigrun R.
Published: April 2014

The proinflammatory enzyme caspase-1 plays an important role in the innate immune system and is involved in a variety of inflammatory conditions. Rare naturally occurring human variants of the caspase-1 gene (CASP1) lead to different protein expression and structure and to decreased or absent enzymatic activity. Paradoxically, a significant number of patients with such variants suffer from febrile episodes despite decreased IL-1β production and secretion. In this study, we investigate how variant (pro)caspase-1 can possibly contribute to inflammation. In a transfection model, such variant procaspase-1 binds receptor interacting protein kinase 2 (RIP2) via Caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD)/CARD interaction and thereby activates NF-κB, whereas wild-type procaspase-1 reduces intracellular RIP2 levels by enzymatic cleavage and release into the supernatant. We approach the protein interactions by coimmunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy and show that NF-κB activation is inhibited by anti–RIP2-short hairpin RNA and by the expression of a RIP2 CARD-only protein. In conclusion, variant procaspase-1 binds RIP2 and thereby activates NF-κB. This pathway could possibly contribute to proinflammatory signaling.
Naive Idiotope-Specific B and T Cells Collaborate Efficiently in the Absence of Dendritic Cells
Authors: Jacobsen Johanne , Haabeth Ole-Audun Werner , Tveita Anders Aune , Schjetne Karoline W. , Munthe Ludvig A. , Bogen Bjarne
Published: April 2014

Anti-idiotope (anti-Id) Abs have a role in therapy against B cell lymphomas, as inhibitors of pathogenic autoantibodies, and as surrogate Ags for immunization. Despite these observations, the mechanism by which Id+ Ig generates anti-Id Abs is essentially unknown. To address this issue, we generated a double knock-in mouse that expresses V regions of a somatically mutated anti-Id mAb with intermediate affinity (affinity constant [Ka] = 0.77 × 107 M−1) for the myeloma protein M315. The anti-Id mice have normal peripheral B cell populations, and allelic exclusion is efficient. Anti-Id B cells from BCR knock-in mice, together with Id-specific CD4+ T cells from previously established TCR-transgenic mice, enabled us to study Id-specific T cell–B cell collaboration by dilution of transferred cells into syngeneic BALB/c recipients. We show that previously unstimulated (naive) Id-specific B and T cells collaborate efficiently in vivo, even at low frequencies and in the presence of low amounts of Id+ Ig, resulting in germinal center formation, plasma cell development, and secretion of isotype-switched anti-Id Abs. We further demonstrate that Id-specific T cell–B cell collaboration occurs readily in the absence of adjuvant and is not dependent on Id-presentation by dendritic cells. The results underscore the potency of anti-Id B cells in MHC class II–restricted presentation of Id+ Ig and suggest that Id-specific T cell–B cell collaboration is of physiological relevance.
Vrijheid en verantwoordelijkheid: Waarom Frankfurt geen gelijk heeft en Sartre bijna
Authors: Hees, van Martin
Published: April 2014

This paper argues that the philosophical analysis of moral responsibility would benefit from focusing more on the social freedom of individuals. In a critique of Frankfurt, it is argued that an individual only is responsible for the consequences of her action if she had the opportunity not be responsible for them. The resulting theory of moral responsibility is applied to the analysis of collective decision processes, and in particular to political decision making. The main conclusion is that, though we do not bear ‘absolute responsibility’ for all of the consequences of our actions, our moral and political responsibility is larger than often is assumed.
Organic aerosol formation from the reactive uptake of isoprene epoxydiols (IEPOX) onto non-acidified inorganic seeds
Authors: Nguyen T. B. , Coggon M. M. , Bates K. H. , Zhang X. , Schwantes R. H. , Schilling K. A. , Loza C. L. , Flagan R. C. , Wennberg P. O. , Seinfeld J. H.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. The reactive partitioning of cis and trans β-IEPOX was investigated on hydrated inorganic seed particles, without the addition of acids. No organic aerosol (OA) formation was observed on dry ammonium sulfate (AS); however, prompt and efficient OA growth was observed for the cis and trans β-IEPOX on AS seeds at liquid water contents of 40–75% of the total particle mass. OA formation from IEPOX is a kinetically limited process, thus the OA growth continues if there is a reservoir of gas-phase IEPOX. There appears to be no differences, within error, in the OA growth or composition attributable to the cis / trans isomeric structures. Reactive uptake of IEPOX onto hydrated AS seeds with added base (NaOH) also produced high OA loadings, suggesting the pH dependence for OA formation from IEPOX is weak for AS particles. No OA formation, after particle drying, was observed on seed particles where Na+ was substituted for NH4+. The Henry's Law partitioning of IEPOX was measured on NaCl particles (ionic strength ~9 M) to be 3 × 107 M atm−1 (−50 / +100%). A small quantity of OA was produced when NH4+ was present in the particles, but the chloride (Cl-) anion was substituted for sulfate (SO42-), possibly suggesting differences in nucleophilic strength of the anions. Online time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometry and offline filter analysis provide evidence of oxygenated hydrocarbons, organosulfates, and amines in the particle organic composition. The results are consistent with weak correlations between IEPOX-derived OA and particle acidity or liquid water observed in field studies, as the chemical system is nucleophile-limited and not limited in water or catalyst activity.
Modelling and assimilation of lidar signals over Greater Paris during the MEGAPOLI summer campaign
Authors: Wang Y. , Sartelet K. N. , Bocquet M. , Chazette P.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. In this study, we investigate the ability of the chemistry transport model (CTM) Polair3D of the air quality modelling platform Polyphemus to simulate lidar backscattered profiles from model aerosol concentration outputs. This investigation is an important preprocessing stage of data assimilation (validation of the observation operator). To do so, simulated lidar signals are compared to hourly lidar observations performed during the MEGAPOLI (Megacities: Emissions, urban, regional and Global Atmospheric POLlution and climate effects, and Integrated tools for assessment and mitigation) summer experiment in July 2009, when a ground-based mobile lidar was deployed around Paris on-board a van. The comparison is performed for six different measurement days, 1, 4, 16, 21, 26 and 29 July 2009, corresponding to different levels of pollution and different atmospheric conditions. Overall, Polyphemus well reproduces the vertical distribution of lidar signals and their temporal variability, especially for 1, 16, 26 and 29 July 2009. Discrepancies on 4 and 21 July 2009 are due to high-altitude aerosol layers, which are not well modelled. In the second part of this study, two new algorithms for assimilating lidar observations based on the optimal interpolation method are presented. One algorithm analyses PM10 (particulate matter with diameter less than 10 μm) concentrations. Another analyses PM2.5 (particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 μm) and PM2.5–10 (particulate matter with a diameter higher than 2.5 μm and lower than 10 μm) concentrations separately. The aerosol simulations without and with lidar data assimilation (DA) are evaluated using the Airparif (a regional operational network in charge of air quality survey around the Paris area) database to demonstrate the feasibility and usefulness of assimilating lidar profiles for aerosol forecasts. The evaluation shows that lidar DA is more efficient at correcting PM10 than PM2.5, probably because PM2.5 is better modelled than PM10. Furthermore, the algorithm which analyses both PM2.5and PM2.5–10 provides the best scores for PM10. The averaged root-mean-square error (RMSE) of PM10 is 11.63 μg m−3 with DA (PM2.5 and PM2.5–10), compared to 13.69 μg m−3 with DA (PM10) and 17.74 μg m−3 without DA on 1 July 2009. The averaged RMSE of PM10 is 4.73 μg m−3 with DA (PM2.5 and PM2.5–10), against 6.08 μg m−3 with DA (PM10) and 6.67 μg m−3 without DA on 26 July 2009.
Measurements of dust deposition velocity in a wind-tunnel experiment
Authors: Zhang J. , Shao Y. , Huang N.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. In this study, we present the results of a wind-tunnel experiment on dust deposition. A new method is proposed to derive dust deposition velocity from the PDA (Particle Dynamics Analysis) particle-velocity and particle-size measurements. This method has the advantage that the motions of individual dust particles are directly observed and all relevant data for computing dust deposition velocity is collected using a single instrument, and therefore the measurement uncertainties are reduced. The method is used in the wind-tunnel experiment to measure the dust deposition velocities for different particle sizes, wind speeds and surface conditions. For a sticky-smooth wood surface and a water surface, the observed dust deposition velocities are compared with the predictions using a dust deposition scheme, and the entire dataset is compared with the data found in the literature. From the wind-tunnel experiments, a relatively reliable dataset of dust deposition velocity is obtained, which is of considerable value for the development and validation of dust deposition schemes.
Portfolio optimisation for hydropower producers that balances riverine ecosystem protection and producer needs
Authors: Yin X. A. , Yang Z. F. , Liu C. L.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. In deregulated electricity markets, hydropower portfolio design has become an essential task for producers. The previous research on hydropower portfolio optimisation focused mainly on the maximisation of profits but did not take into account riverine ecosystem protection. Although profit maximisation is the major objective for producers in deregulated markets, protection of riverine ecosystems must be incorporated into the process of hydropower portfolio optimisation, especially against a background of increasing attention to environmental protection and stronger opposition to hydropower generation. This research seeks mainly to remind hydropower producers of the requirement of river protection when they design portfolios and help shift portfolio optimisation from economically oriented to ecologically friendly. We establish a framework to determine the optimal portfolio for a hydropower reservoir, accounting for both economic benefits and ecological needs. In this framework, the degree of natural flow regime alteration is adopted as a constraint on hydropower generation to protect riverine ecosystems, and the maximisation of mean annual revenue is set as the optimisation objective. The electricity volumes assigned in different electricity submarkets are optimised by the noisy genetic algorithm. The proposed framework is applied to China's Wangkuai Reservoir to test its effectiveness. The results show that the new framework could help to design eco-friendly portfolios that can ensure a planned profit and reduce alteration of the natural flow regime.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step – human agency, hydrological processes and time in socio-hydrology
Authors: Ertsen M. W. , Murphy J. T. , Purdue L. E. , Zhu T.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. When simulating social action in modeling efforts, as in socio-hydrology, an issue of obvious importance is how to ensure that social action by human agents is well-represented in the analysis and the model. Generally, human decision-making is either modeled on a yearly basis or lumped together as collective social structures. Both responses are problematic, as human decision-making is more complex and organizations are the result of human agency and cannot be used as explanatory forces. A way out of the dilemma of how to include human agency is to go to the largest societal and environmental clustering possible: society itself and climate, with time steps of years or decades. In the paper, another way out is developed: to face human agency squarely, and direct the modeling approach to the agency of individuals and couple this with the lowest appropriate hydrological level and time step. This approach is supported theoretically by the work of Bruno Latour, the French sociologist and philosopher. We discuss irrigation archaeology, as it is in this discipline that the issues of scale and explanatory force are well discussed. The issue is not just what scale to use: it is what scale matters. We argue that understanding the arrangements that permitted the management of irrigation over centuries requires modeling and understanding the small-scale, day-to-day operations and personal interactions upon which they were built. This effort, however, must be informed by the longer-term dynamics, as these provide the context within which human agency is acted out.
Modeling the economic costs of disasters and recovery: analysis using a dynamic computable general equilibrium model
Authors: Xie W. , Li N. , Wu J.-D. , Hao X.-L.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Disaster damages have negative effects on the economy, whereas reconstruction investment has positive effects. The aim of this study is to model economic causes of disasters and recovery involving the positive effects of reconstruction activities. Computable general equilibrium (CGE) model is a promising approach because it can incorporate these two kinds of shocks into a unified framework and furthermore avoid the double-counting problem. In order to factor both shocks into the CGE model, direct loss is set as the amount of capital stock reduced on the supply side of the economy; a portion of investments restores the capital stock in an existing period; an investment-driven dynamic model is formulated according to available reconstruction data, and the rest of a given country's saving is set as an endogenous variable to balance the fixed investment. The 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake is selected as a case study to illustrate the model, and three scenarios are constructed: S0 (no disaster occurs), S1 (disaster occurs with reconstruction investment) and S2 (disaster occurs without reconstruction investment). S0 is taken as business as usual, and the differences between S1 and S0 and that between S2 and S0 can be interpreted as economic losses including reconstruction and excluding reconstruction, respectively. The study showed that output from S1 is found to be closer to real data than that from S2. Economic loss under S2 is roughly 1.5 times that under S1. The gap in the economic aggregate between S1 and S0 is reduced to 3% at the end of government-led reconstruction activity, a level that should take another four years to achieve under S2.
Hollywood, The American Image And The Global Film Industry
Authors: Ibbi Andrew Ali
Published: April 2014

The emergence of indigenous film industries across the world has been seen by many as a threat to the influence of Hollywood on the movie scene. This paper tries to look at the ideological influence of Hollywood on movies the world over. the paper considered the Chinese, Indian and Nigerian film industries. the three industries were chosen because of their influence on their continents and some parts of the world. The Theory of cultural Imperialism is chosen as the supporting theory for the paper.
The diversity of weed species occurring in living mulch in an apple orchard
Authors: Licznar-Małańczuk Maria
Published: April 2014

In a study conducted at the Research Station of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, weed occurrence in living mulches maintained in apple tree rows of ‘Pinova’ cv. was assessed during the first seven years after sowing. The trees were planted in spring 2004 (3.5 × 1.2 m). In the same year, living mulches: colonial bent grass, white clover and French marigold, were sown into 1 m wide tree rows. Blue fescue, the only perennial cover crop with herbicide application against dicot weeds once in the second year after sowing, was introduced in the second year after planting the trees to replace dwarf nasturtium which was sown in the year of orchard establishment. In the inter-row spaces, perennial grass was maintained.

During the first seven years, variation in weeds was observed depending on living mulch. Multi-species weed infestation persisted throughout the study period only in the case of annually resown French marigold. Perennial living mulches were significantly suppressed the annual weeds. Significant suppression of Taraxacum officinale Web. was found where the soil surface was covered by perennial grass sod in more than ¾. The maintenance of blue fescue resulted in significantly lower average soil coverage by Elymus repens (L.) Gould; the growth of this weed significantly contributed to the reduction of white clover sod and French marigold plants.
Floristic variation in communities of fallow lands of the Podlaski Przełom Bugu mesoregion depending on the time of removal of fields from cultivation
Authors: Skrzyczyńska Janina , Stachowicz Piotr , Rzymowska Zofia , Skrajna Teresa
Published: April 2014

A study of fallow lands in the Podlaski Przełom Bugu (Podlasie Bug River Gorge) mesoregion was conducted over the period 2001–2004 in 77 villages belonging to 20 municipalities located in the Bug River valley along the stretch of the river from Terespol to Małkinia Górna. The aim of this study was to carry out a survey of vascular plants in fallow lands and to perform their multifaceted analysis. The study investigated quantitative and qualitative changes taking place in fallow vegetation with the passage of time from the abandonment of purposeful cultivation. Plant patches in 1–2-year, 3–6-year, 7–10-year and more than 10-year fallows were studied. Vascular plants of fallow lands within the study area comprise 442 species. 3–6-year fallows were richest in species (355). With increasing fallow age, the number of species decreased to 205 species in fallows older than 10 years. Hemicryptophytes dominated in plant communities of fallow lands. Therophytes were the co-dominant biological type in the youngest fallows. Chamaephytes and geophytes in all fellow age groups accounted for about 5%. Among vascular plants of fallow lands, native species dominated and their percentage increased with increasing fallow age, while at the same time the proportion of archeophytes decreased. With the increasing age of fallows, the proportion of species characteristic of forest communities also increased, whereas the percentage of segetal species simultaneously decreased. With the passage of time from the abandonment of cultivation, one can observe the evolution of plant cover of fallow fields from segetal communities towards less synanthropic communities.
Diversity of fungi colonizing leaves of Rhododendron (Rhododendron L.) cuttings
Authors: Kierpiec-Baran Barbara , Żołna Małgorzata , Kowalik Maria
Published: April 2014

Rhododendrons (Rhododendron L.) are shrubs whose attractiveness is determined by their multi-coloured flowers and evergreen leaves. Necroses visible on the leaves of rhododendron cuttings diminish the suitability of nursery material for marketing. These symptoms are most frequently caused by fungi. The investigations were conducted in 2010–2011 in an ornamental shrub nursery to identify fungi colonizing the phyllosphere of rhododendron cuttings and causing leaf necroses. The material for analysis consisted of leaves of 11 rhododendron cultivars. 550 leaves were collected from 110 half-year-old cuttings for mycological analysis. Over 350 fungal colonies belonging to 15 species were isolated from the leaves of rhododendron cuttings. The dominants included: Pestalotiopsis sydowiana, Trichoderma koningii and Alternaria alternata. The influents included: Aspergillus brasiliensis, Mucor hiemalis f. hiemalis, Epicoccum nigrum, Sordaria fimicola and Umbelopsis isabellina. A large majority of the fungi preferred the phyllosphere environment of Yakushima rhododendron (R. yakushimanum) cultivars ‘Sneezy’ and ‘Golden Torch’ as well as of the large-flowered cultivars ‘Flautando’, ‘Dominik’, and ‘Simona’. The phyllosphere of the large-flowered cultivars ‘Bernstein’, ‘Nova Zembla’, and ‘Goldbuckett’ was a reservoir for many fungal colonies and fungi species. The cultivars less susceptible to colonization by fungi and the most promising for planting in green areas and home gardens are the large-flowered cultivars ‘Bernstein’, ‘Nova Zembla’, ‘Goldbuckett’, ‘Rasputin’, and ‘Roseum Elegans’.