bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diversité exogène des entreprises et justification économique d'une politique d'incitation à la coopération en R&D
Authors: Matt Mireille
Published: September 2011

Exogenous corporate diversity and economic justification for an incentive policy in favour of R&D

co-operation by Mireille Matt

The main aim of this article is to put forward, using a strategic investment model, an economic justification for the introduction of an incentive policy for co-operation in Research and Development (R&D), of the type implemented by the European Community. This economic justification is based mainly on the introduction of a "spillover parameter" that is different for each of the duopolists, thus making it possible to consider firms to be heterogeneous both in terms of the nature of the research they carry out and in terms of their absorptive capacity. On this assumption of heterogeneity, firms do not spontaneously co-operate in all "spillover" configurations and we show that a policy of incentive to co-operation becomes relevant. Our formalisation makes it possible, in particular, to maintain that it is socially desirable to provide incentives for cooperation between firms that are complementary from a technological point of view, a conclusion which corresponds, in particular, to the aims of the European R&D programmes.
Choix de mécanismes incitatifs dans les contrats agri-environnementaux
Authors: Richard Alban , Trommetter Michel
Published: September 2011

The choice of incentive mechanisms in agri-environmental contracts by Alban Richard and Michel Trommetter

In the light of economic and environmental objectives, agri-environmental measures seek the incentive mechanism best suited to reduce the level of negative externalities or to generate positive externalities in farms. The objective of this paper is to build a model of the interaction between public authorities and farmers. This model of the sequential-behaviour type (possibility of revising some decisions), indispensable for tackling dynamic interactions between governmental decisions and farmers, by making allowance for unforeseen events and for a learning process in the course of the contract. The simulations show the respective influence of the variables, in the model, on the optimal level of incentive for heterogeneous farmers.
Les pays d'Europe peuvent-ils reproduire la réforme électrique de l'Angleterre ? Une analyse institutionnelle comparative
Authors: Glachant Jean-Michel
Published: September 2011

Les pays d'Europe peuvent-ils reproduire la réforme électrique de l'Angleterre ? Une analyse

institutionnelle comparative par Jean-Michel Glachant

Bien que la réforme électrique concurrentielle de l'Angleterre ait été pionnière, précédant de dix ans la plupart des autres réformes européennes, elle n'a guère été reproduite à l'identique dans d'autres pays d'Europe, même par les pays les plus favorables à cette politique. L'analyse néo-institutionnelle nous explique pourquoi. En fait, les réformes électriques concurrentielles combinent dans chaque pays deux ensembles d'institutions : les dispositifs institutionnels internes des industries et les environnements institutionnels nationaux. La comparaison des régimes institutionnels des réformes électriques en Angleterre, Allemagne et Norvège montre que le modèle anglais de réforme électrique est hors d'atteinte pour le plus grand nombre des pays européens comme pour les autorités de l'Union européenne.
Coûts de transaction et choix contractuels : un test économétrique sur une entreprise publique
Authors: Saussier Stéphane
Published: September 2011

Transactions costs and contractual choice: an econometric test taking a public-sector enterprise

by Stéphane Saussier

This paper examines the form taken by inter-firm contracts in the light of transactions-costs theory. We maintain that agents' contractual choice is explained by a desire to reduce transactions costs. In order to test the conclusions deduced from the theory, we built up a database of contracts representing the totality of the contractual relationships between Electricité de France and its coal transporters over the period 1977-1997. In a first stage, we explore the factors that may explain the form of contracts in the framework of transactions-cost theory (first part). Refutable propositions are put forward and tested (second part), together with a description of the contractual relations between EDF and its suppliers (third part). The conclusions derived from transactions-cost theory are confirmed by our study.
Une maquette analytique de long terme du marché du travail
Authors: Salanié Bernard
Published: September 2011

Une maquette analytique de long terme du marché du travail par Bernard Salanié

Plusieurs maquettes décrivant le fonctionnement à long terme du marche du travail en France ont été construites récemment. L'objet de cet article est de présenter une maquette d'inspiration semblable très simple qui peut être résolue analytiquement et calibrée très facilement, puis de l'appliquer à l'étude des effets de diverses mesures de politique économique.
Relation de Phillips, boucle prix-salaire : une estimation par la méthode de Johansen
Authors: Heyer Eric , Le Bihan Hervé , Lerais Frédéric
Published: September 2011

Revisiting the Classic Augmented Phillips Curve for France: a VECM Approach by Eric Heyer, Hervé Le Bihan et Frédéric Lerais

This paper presents an empirical model of a price- wage loop based on French quarterly data. We apply the Johansen maximum likelihood technique to deal with the series' non-stationarity and capture nominal rigidities. Given that prices and wages can be treated as I(2) variables, we estimate a VECM in terms of price and wage differences. The classic augmented Phillips curve is hence interpreted as a cointegration relation. Our specification is used to test different wage and price indexation assumptions and to model short-run nominal rigidities. Two other long-run relations are identified: the mark-up of value-added prices over labour costs and a consumer price inflation equation involving import prices. We also use the Johansen and Juselius (1995) approach to identify and estimate a set of structural short-run price and wage equations.
Une application d'un modèle collectif d'offre de travail sur données françaises
Authors: Moreau Nicolas
Published: September 2011

An Application of a Collective Labour Supply Model to French Data

by Nicolas Moreau

This paper estimates the Chiappori et alii ( 1 998) collective labour supply model using recent French data. The data only partially validate the model. Nevertheless, the estimates provide information on arrangements made within couples. When a wife's "divorce" threat is credible, she receives a larger share of the household's income from financial and real estate investments.
Insertion des jeunes sur le marché du travail et nature du contrat d'embauché : une approche par la théorie des jeux répétés
Authors: Pénard Thierry , Sollogoub Michel , Ulrich Valérie
Published: September 2011

Insertion des jeunes sur le marché du travail et nature du contrat d'embauché :

une approche par la théorie des jeux répétés

par Thierry Pénard, Michel Sollogoub et Valérie Ulrich

Cet article évalue les implications comparées de la signature d'un CDD (contrat à durée déterminée) par rapport à celle d'un CDI (contrat à durée indéterminée) sur le marché des travailleurs jeunes faiblement qualifiés. L'utilisation d'un CDD plutôt que d'un CDI présente des avantages pour l'employeur. Nous recherchons, dans un cadre de théorie des jeux répétés, l'impact de la nature du contrat d'embauché (CDD ou CDI) sur les possibilités de coopération entre le salarié et son employeur. Cette coopération s'avère extrêmement sensible aux modalités de rupture du contrat de travail. Ainsi, un employeur dispose avec un CDD d'une menace et peut donc être utilisé comme mécanisme d'incitation à l'effort des salariés. En CDI, cette menace est moins crédible. L'employeur devrait donc être plus enclin à coopérer et devrait verser un salaire plus élevé pour compenser la moindre efficacité des représailles en CDI. Nous testons cette prédiction sur des données issues d'une enquête portant sur des jeunes sortants de l'enseignement secondaire (professionnel ou général) en France.
Dynamique périurbaine et dépenses publiques locales : une analyse en termes de causalité
Authors: Binet Marie-Estelle
Published: September 2011

Dynamique périurbaine et dépenses publiques locales : une analyse en termes de causalité

par Marie-Estelle Binet

Cet article propose une méthodologie économétrique originale afin de tester l'existence de compétition fiscale entre collectivités locales, via la croissance des dépenses publiques locales. Une analyse de la causalité au sens de Granger entre le niveau de population résidentielle et le montant de bien public offert dans une localité est ainsi menée sur un échantillon de 25 communes françaises sur la période 1960-1983. On montre que, pour 8 communes étudiées, le niveau de bien public local précède et influence positivement les choix d'implantation. La croissance résidentielle de ces communes est donc expliquée, en partie, par une stratégie de compétition fiscale. Pour 7 autres communes, la causalité inverse est observée. Elles sont donc caractérisées par un comportement adaptatif.
Taux d'imposition locaux optimaux et processus d'ajustement progressif : existe-t-il des clubs communaux en France ?
Authors: Guengant Alain , Tavéra Christophe
Published: September 2011

Taux d'imposition locaux optimaux et processus d'ajustement progressif : existe-t-il des clubs

communaux en France ? par Alain Guengant et Christophe Tavéra

L'article propose une exploration économétrique de l'hypothèse d'ajustement graduel des taux d'imposition votés par les conseils municipaux aux taux optimaux désirés par les électeurs médians à partir d'un échantillon relatif aux 850 villes de métropole de plus de 10 000 habitants sur la période 1993 à 1995. L'analyse économétrique est basée sur une estimation "cross section dynamique". Une procédure recursive avec tests de stabilité séquentiels permet de déterminer de façon endogène les clubs de villes ayant des caractéristiques homogènes au niveau du processus de convergence du taux de pression fiscale vers le taux optimal.
Dépendance de court et de long terme des rendements de taux de change
Authors: Lecourt Christelle
Published: September 2011

Short- and Long-Run Dependence of Exchange Rate Returns by Christelle Lecourt

In this paper, we estimate an ARFIMA-GARCH model as introduced by Baillie, Bollerslev and Mikkelsen (1996) for the four leading daily exchange rate returns. Our main contribution is to take account of ARCH effects using a GARCH model and to consider the kurtosis in the series by opting for a Student distribution rather than a normal distribution. The results obtained show that most of the exchange rate return series have a poor long-run memory. The economic implications of these findings are considerable. Firstly, they should help improve forecasts of returns. Secondly, they imply that the efficient market (in the weak sense) hypothesis does not hold.
Appréhender la conjoncture à l'aide de la méthode de Stock-Watson : une application à l'économie belge
Authors: Bodart Vincent , Candelon Bertrand
Published: September 2011

Understanding the Economy Using the Stock- Watson Method: an Application to the Belgian

Economy by Vincent Bodart and Bertrand Candelon

In recent studies, Stock and Watson (1989, 1991 and 1993) developed a new methodology for constructing economic indicators. Although this work has made a considerable contribution to business cycle analysis, it has strangely enough rarely been used for empirical applications. In this paper, we apply Stock- Watson' s methodology to Belgium. We show that the synthetic economic indicator obtained has remarkable properties and provides an unmistakably different view of the Belgian business cycle to that found by the more classic economic indicators.
Extraction du cycle des affaires : la méthode de Baxter et King
Authors: Fournier Jean-Yves
Published: September 2011

Extracting the Business Cycle Using the Baxter and King Method by Jean- Yves Fournier

Baxter and King recently proposed a method for extracting cyclical fluctuations and trends from economic time series. This method is based on a range of frequencies that defines the cycle. We present the construction of their approximate band-pass filter and its application to French GDP. The cycle obtained is used to estimate the output gap (the relative deviation between GDP and its trend), which is particularly important in economic policy.

The band-pass filter is then used to identify the cycles of the French economy's main variables and those of the GDPs of France's economic partners. We show that household consumption is slightly less cyclical than GDP, whereas investment and foreign trade are more so. None of these series appears to consistently lag or lead GDP. Last but not least, we find that the cyclical components of European GDP are synchronised to some extent and that the Anglo-Saxon economies are persistently in the lead.
Does Antiviral Therapy Prevent Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
Authors: Kwon Hellan , Lok Anna S
Published: September 2011

Chronic infection with HBV or HCV can lead to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The major risk factors for HBV-related HCC are persistent presence of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and/or high serum HBV DNA levels, and cirrhosis. The major risk factor for HCV-related HCC is cirrhosis. One randomized double blind controlled trial of lamivudine in patients with HBeAg and/or high serum HBV DNA levels showed that antiviral therapy prevented disease progression and reduced the incidence of HCC. A beneficial effect of antiviral therapy on the risk of HCC has also been shown in cohort studies and meta-analyses, particularly among responders. Several randomized controlled trials of interferon in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis showed that treated patients had a lower incidence of HCC. A greater effect was observed in patients who achieved sustained virological response, while the benefit in non-responders is unclear. Antiviral therapies for hepatitis B and hepatitis C can prevent but not completely eliminate HCC. Improvement in identification of infected persons, accessibility of care and affordability of treatment is needed for antiviral therapy to have a major impact on the global incidence of HCC.
Effectiveness of a Third Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-blocking Agent Compared with Rituximab After Failure of 2 TNF-blocking Agents in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: BLOM MARLIES , KIEVIT WIETSKE , DONDERS A. ROGIER T. , den BROEDER ALFONS A. , STRATEN VINCENT H.H.P. , KUPER INA , VISSER HENK , JANSEN TIM L. , BRUS HERMAN L.M. , BRANTEN AMANDA J.W. , van de LAAR MART A.F.J. , van RIEL PIET L.C.M.
Published: September 2011

Objective.

To compare the effectiveness of a third tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-blocking agent with rituximab after failure of 2 TNF-blocking agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in daily clinical practice.

Methods.

Patients receiving a third TNF-blocking agent or rituximab after failure of 2 TNF-blocking agents were selected from a Dutch biologic registry. The primary outcome was the results from the Disease Activity Score of 28 joints (DAS28) over the first 12 months after start of the third biologic using mixed-model analyses. Secondary outcomes included the course of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the separate components of the DAS28 over the first 12 months and the change from baseline in DAS28 and HAQ at 3 and 6 months.

Results.

The overall course of the DAS28 over the first 12 months was significantly better for rituximab (p = 0.0044), as also observed for the HAQ, although the latter results were not statistically significant (p = 0.0537). The erythrocyte sedimentation rates, C-reactive protein, and swollen joint counts showed a better course for rituximab (p = 0.0008, p = 0.0287, p = 0.0547, respectively), but not the tender joint counts or visual analog scale for general health. DAS28 decreased significantly in both groups at 3 and 6 months (p ≤ 0.024), but the change in HAQ was significant for rituximab only at 3 months (p = 0.009).

Conclusion.

During the first 12 months of therapy, a larger improvement in disease activity and a trend toward a larger decrease in functional disability was observed in patients receiving rituximab. Switching to a biologic with another mechanism of action might be more effective after failure of 2 TNF-blocking agents in RA.
Abatacept Plus Methotrexate Provides Incremental Clinical Benefits Versus Methotrexate Alone in Methotrexate-naive Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Achieve Radiographic Nonprogression
Authors: WELLS ALVIN F. , WESTHOVENS RENE , REED DIANE MONIZ , FANTI LUCIANA , BECKER JEAN-CLAUDE , COVUCCI ALLISON , KEYSTONE EDWARD C.
Published: September 2011

Objective.

This article reports 1-year clinical outcomes in the subgroup of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the Abatacept study to Gauge Remission and joint damage progression in methotrexate-naive patients with Early Erosive rheumatoid arthritis (AGREE) who achieved radiographic nonprogression at the end of the double-blind phase.

Methods.

Patients who achieved radiographic nonprogression (change from baseline in total Sharp score ≤ 0 at 12 months) with abatacept plus methotrexate (MTX) or MTX alone were eligible for this analysis. Clinical outcomes were remission, defined by 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) using C-reactive protein (CRP), low Disease Activity Score (LDAS), American College of Rheumatology (ACR) scores, physical function (Health Assessment Questionnaire), and tender and swollen joint counts. Safety was assessed at each visit.

Results.

Patients in the abatacept plus MTX and MTX monotherapy groups had similar baseline characteristics and were similar to the overall study population. The proportion of patients who achieved DAS28 (CRP) remission or LDAS was greater with abatacept plus MTX vs MTX alone [43.2% vs 22.7% (p < 0.001) and 57.4% vs 40.6% (p = 0.008), respectively]. More patients receiving abatacept plus MTX achieved key ACR responses, including major clinical response (27.3% vs 11.9%; p < 0.001). Safety profiles were similar in both treatment groups.

Conclusion.

More MTX-naive patients with early RA who achieved radiographic nonprogression taking abatacept plus MTX also achieved DAS28 (CRP)-defined remission and LDAS compared with patients who received MTX alone, supporting the use of abatacept as a first-line biologic in combination with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
Effects of Bedtime Very Low Dose Cyclobenzaprine on Symptoms and Sleep Physiology in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Double-blind Randomized Placebo-controlled Study
Authors: MOLDOFSKY HARVEY , HARRIS HERBERT W. , ARCHAMBAULT W. TAD , KWONG TERENCE , LEDERMAN SETH
Published: September 2011

Objective.

To determine the effects of bedtime very low dose (VLD) cyclobenzaprine (CBP) on symptoms and sleep physiology of patients with fibromyalgia (FM), unrefreshing sleep, and the α-nonREM sleep electroencephalographic (EEG) anomaly at screening.

Methods.

Of 37 patients with FM in the screened population, 36 were randomized and treated in this 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalating study of VLD CBP 1–4 mg at bedtime. We evaluated changes in subjective symptoms including pain, tenderness, fatigue, mood [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD)], and objective EEG sleep physiology (at screening, baseline, and Weeks 2, 4, and 8).

Results.

In the VLD CBP-treated group (n = 18) over 8 weeks, musculoskeletal pain and fatigue decreased, tenderness improved; total HAD score and the HAD depression subscore decreased; patient-rated and clinician-rated fatigue improved. In the placebo-treated group (n = 18), none of these outcome measures changed significantly. Compared to placebo at 8 weeks, VLD CBP significantly improved pain, tenderness, and the HAD Depression subscore. Analysis of cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) sleep EEG revealed that significantly more subjects in the VLD CBP group than the placebo group had increased nights of restorative sleep in which CAPA2+A3/CAPA1+A2+A3= CAPA2+A3(Norm)≤ 33%. For VLD CBP-treated subjects, the increase in nights with CAPA2+A3(Norm)≤ 33% was correlated to improvements in fatigue, total HAD score, and HAD depression score.

Conclusion.

Bedtime VLD CBP treatment improved core FM symptoms. Nights with CAPA2+A3(Norm)≤ 33% may provide a biomarker for assessing treatment effects on nonrestorative sleep and associated fatigue and mood symptoms in persons with FM.
Emerging Issues in Pharmacological Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results of a National Needs Assessment Survey Identifying Practice Variations for the Development of Canadian Rheumatology Association Clinical Practice Recommendations: Table 1.
Authors: BYKERK VIVIAN P. , SCHIEIR ORIT , AKHAVAN POONEH , HAZLEWOOD GLEN S. , CHENG CARLY K. , BOMBARDIER CLAIRE
Published: September 2011

Objective.

To describe Canadian clinical practice patterns in the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and identify practice variations.

Methods.

A 44-item pre-guideline needs assessment survey was sent to all members of the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize respondent characteristics and practice patterns.

Results.

Survey respondents (n = 164) reported variations in practice regarding assessment strategies, treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drug monotherapy versus combination therapy, methotrexate dosing and escalation, corticosteroid strategies, and optimal use of biologics.

Conclusions.

Practice variations identified in this pre-guideline needs assessment survey were used to formulate key treatment questions for the development of CRA recommendations.
Resistin Levels in Lupus and Associations with Disease-specific Measures, Insulin Resistance, and Coronary Calcification
Authors: BAKER JOSHUA F. , MORALES MEGAN , QATANANI MOHAMMED , CUCCHIARA ANDREW , NACKOS ELENI , LAZAR MITCHELL A. , TEFF KAREN , VON FELDT JOAN MARIE
Published: September 2011

Objective.

To evaluate levels of resistin in female subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to age and race-matched controls and to determine the relationship between resistin and systemic inflammation, disease measures, and coronary artery calcification (CAC).

Methods.

Resistin levels were measured on stored samples from 159 women with SLE and 70 controls as an extension of a previous cross-sectional study. Spearman correlations and multivariable regressions were used to examine whether resistin levels were associated with SLE, disease-specific and inflammatory markers, insulin resistance, and CAC.

Results.

In a multivariable linear regression model, a diagnosis of SLE was significantly associated with higher resistin levels independent of age, race, renal function, body mass index (BMI), high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP), hypertension, diabetes, and steroid use. In SLE, resistin levels correlated positively with Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), hsCRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, homocysteine, and disease duration (all p < 0.03). Resistin level did not correlate with markers of insulin resistance or body adiposity, including homeostatic model assessment or BMI. Resistin levels were significantly elevated in SLE cases with CAC compared to cases without CAC (16.58 vs 13.10 ng/ml, respectively; p = 0.04). In multivariate logistic regression, the association was not present after adjustment for age, race, and GFR.

Conclusion.

SLE was independently associated with higher resistin levels. Among subjects with SLE, higher resistin level correlated positively with renal dysfunction, inflammatory markers, and disease damage but not with insulin resistance or BMI. SLE cases with CAC had higher resistin levels than cases without CAC; however, this relationship was dependent on other established risk factors.
Adalimumab or Cyclosporine as Monotherapy and in Combination in Severe Psoriatic Arthritis: Results from a Prospective 12-month Nonrandomized Unblinded Clinical Trial
Authors: KARANIKOLAS GEORGE N. , KOUKLI EFTYHIA-MARIA , KATSALIRA AIKATERINI , ARIDA AIKATERINI , PETROU DIMITRIOS , KOMNINOU ELENI , FRAGIADAKI KALLIOPI , ZACHARIOUDAKI ANNA , LASITHIOTAKIS IOANNIS , GIAVRI EIRINI , VAIOPOULOS GEORGE , SFIKAKIS PETROS P.
Published: September 2011

Objective.

To assess the efficacy and safety of adalimumab or cyclosporine (CYC) as monotherapy or combination therapy for patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), despite methotrexate (MTX) therapy.

Methods.

A prospective 12-month, nonrandomized, unblinded clinical trial of 57, 58, and 55 patients who received CYC (2.5–3.75 mg/kg/day), adalimumab (40 mg every other week), or combination, respectively. Lowering of concomitant nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) and corticosteroids and reductions of adalimumab and/or CYC doses in responding patients were not restricted.

Results.

Mean numbers of tender/swollen joints at baseline were 9.7/6.7 in CYC-treated, 13.0/7.8 in adalimumab-treated, and 14.5/9.4 in combination-treated patients, indicating lesser disease severity of patients assigned to the first group. The Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria at 12 months were met by 65% of CYC-treated (p = 0.0003 in favor of combination treatment), 85% of adalimumab-treated (p = 0.15 vs combination treatment), and 95% of combination-treated patients, while the American College of Rheumatology-50 response rates were 36%, 69%, and 87%, respectively (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.03 in favor of combination treatment). A significantly greater mean improvement in Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index was achieved by combination treatment (−1.11) vs CYC (−0.41) or adalimumab alone (−0.85). Combination therapy significantly improved Psoriasis Area and Severity Index-50 response rates beyond adalimumab, but not beyond the effect of CYC monotherapy. Doses of NSAID and corticosteroids were reduced in combination-treated patients; CYC doses and frequency of adalimumab injections were also reduced in 51% and 10% of them, respectively. No new safety signals were observed.

Conclusion.

The combination of adalimumab and CYC is safe and seemed to produce major improvement in both clinical and serological variables in patients with severely active PsA and inadequate response to MTX.
Levels of Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Correlate with Disease Activity in the Enthesitis-related Arthritis Category of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: VISWANATH VISHAD , MYLES ARPITA , DAYAL RAJESHWAR , AGGARWAL AMITA
Published: September 2011

Objective.

Serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) has been shown to reflect disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and rheumatoid arthritis. Elevated levels have been found in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). In the enthesitis-related arthritis category of JIA (JIA-ERA), we studied whether serum MMP-3 levels and ratios of MMP-3/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) are correlated with disease activity and whether they are sensitive to change in disease activity.

Methods.

A total of 54 patients with JIA-ERA (International League of Associations for Rheumatology criteria) were enrolled for study. Baseline disease activity measures included tender and swollen joint counts, Maastricht AS Enthesitis Score, Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), patient assessment of pain and global disease activity, physician assessment of global disease activity, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Serum MMP-3 and TIMP-1 levels were measured using ELISA. A group of 24 patients were followed up for longitudinal study.

Results.

The mean age of 54 patients (48 males) at disease onset was 11.8 ± 4.19 years and duration of disease was 5.2 ± 4.3 years. Median ESR was 65 mm/h (range 46.5–97) and median BASDAI was 3.4 (range 2.5–4.7). Median MMP-3, TIMP-1, and MMP-3/TIMP-1 ratio were 50.4 ng/ml (IQR 13.0–193.8), 228.9 ng/ml (IQR 108.2–290.4), and 0.3 (IQR 0.07–1.13), respectively. At inclusion MMP-3 levels correlated directly with various disease activity measures: tender joint count (TJC; r = 0.60), swollen joint count (SJC; r = 0.45), BASFI (r = 0.29), BASDAI (r = 0.32), ESR (r = 0.49), physician global assessment (r = 0.40), patient visual analog scale for pain (r = 0.28), and patient global assessment (r = 0.38; all p < 0.05). MMP-3/TIMP-1 ratio correlated only with TJC (r = 0.51), SJC (r = 0.39), and ESR (r = 0.34; p < 0.05). At followup, change in MMP-3 correlated with changes in TJC (r = 0.42) and SJC (r = 0.44; p < 0.05), while change in ESR did not correlate with change in any disease activity measure.

Conclusion.

MMP-3 levels are a good marker for disease activity in JIA-ERA.
FCRL3 –169C/C Genotype Is Associated with Anti-citrullinated Protein Antibody-positive Rheumatoid Arthritis and with Radiographic Progression
Authors: MAEHLEN MARTHE T. , NORDANG GRY B. , SYVERSEN SILJE W. , van der HEIJDE DÉSIRÉE M. , KVIEN TORE K. , UHLIG TILL , LIE BENEDICTE A.
Published: September 2011

Objective.

Studies of Caucasian populations have shown conflicting results concerning the association between a promoter polymorphism –169T>C of the Fc receptor-like 3 (FCRL3) gene and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unknown whether FCRL3 is associated with autoantibody status and disease severity. We investigated associations between FCRL3 –169T>C and autoantibody status and joint damage in patients with RA.

Methods.

A total of 652 Norwegian patients with RA from 2 cohorts and 981 Norwegian controls, previously genotyped for FCRL3 –169T>C (rs7528684), were studied. Data on anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) were available. The EURIDISS cohort (disease duration ≤ 4 yrs at baseline) was followed longitudinally, with assessment of radiographic hand damage at baseline and after 10 years (n = 117) according to the van der Heijde-modified Sharp score.

Results.

We found significant associations with ACPA-positive RA for both the C allele (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.08–1.52, p = 0.004) and the C/C genotype (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.18–2.10, p = 0.002). Similar associations were seen with RF-positive RA. No association was found with ACPA-negative or RF-negative RA. The C/C genotype was found to be associated with 10-year radiographic progression in multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses, after adjustment for ACPA, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, age, and sex.

Conclusion.

The promoter polymorphism of FCRL3 was associated with autoantibody-positive RA. Despite the low number of patients, the C/C genotype of the FCRL3 polymorphism consistently and independently predicted radiographic progression. These findings suggest that FCRL3 is involved in both disease susceptibility and progression.
Minimally Important Difference of Health Assessment Questionnaire in Psoriatic Arthritis: Relating Thresholds of Improvement in Functional Ability to Patient-rated Importance and Satisfaction
Authors: MEASE PHILIP J. , WOOLLEY J. MICHAEL , BITMAN BOJENA , WANG BRIAN C. , GLOBE DENISE R. , SINGH AMITABH
Published: September 2011

Objective.

To evaluate changes in function as measured by Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and the meaningfulness of the changes, in importance and satisfaction, in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods.

HAQ-DI was assessed at baseline and at Weeks 4, 12, and 24 in a randomized double-blind study of 205 patients with active PsA receiving etanercept 25 mg twice weekly or placebo. Concurrently, patients rated the importance of and satisfaction with their change in function on a 7-point scale (1 = not at all important/satisfied; 7 = extremely important/satisfied). Mean HAQ-DI improvement corresponding to ratings of minimally (2–3) or very (6–7) important or satisfied was determined using a posthoc linear mixed-model analysis. Patient importance ratings were used as an anchor to estimate minimally important difference (MID) for HAQ-DI; distribution-based estimates were also calculated.

Results.

A total of 161 patients (69 placebo; 92 etanercept) had ≥ 1 HAQ-DI scores showing improvement from baseline and a corresponding importance or satisfaction rating. HAQ-DI improvements corresponding to importance scale ratings of 2 or 3 were 0.335 (95% CI 0.214, 0.455) and 0.360 (95% CI 0.263, 0.456), respectively, suggesting an MID of about 0.35. HAQ-DI improvements corresponding to satisfaction scale ratings of 2 and 3 were 0.293 (95% CI 0.230, 0.357) and 0.360 (95% CI 0.307, 0.413). For a given change in HAQ-DI, nearly two-thirds of patients indicated a lower rating for satisfaction than for importance. This trial was registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov registry (NCT00317499).

Conclusion.

Our study suggests the MID for HAQ-DI in PsA is about 0.35. The results may also provide insight into patient satisfaction with changes in function and expectations for therapy.
The Association of LRP5 Gene Polymorphisms with Ankylosing Spondylitis in a Chinese Han Population
Authors: LIU JIANMIN , ZHOU XIAOYAN , SHAN ZHENXING , YANG JIGUO , YANG QINGRUI , CUI YAZHOU , HAN JINXIANG
Published: September 2011

Objective.

To clarify the association between polymorphisms of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in a Chinese Han population.

Methods.

Sixteen patients with AS were recruited for preliminary screening through gene sequencing. Then 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of LRP5 were followed up in 296 patients and 170 controls.

Results.

Sequencing the LRP5 showed 24 SNP including 3 novel SNP [LRP5SNP1 (c.-1596T > C), LRP5SNP2 (c.3764-30G > A), and LRP5SNP3 (c.4488+74G > A)]. Validation of SNP showed that the LRP5SNP3 were associated with AS after multiple testing correction (allele Pc = 0.0087, genotype Pc = 0.0316, haplotype AGA, Pc = 0.0051, OR = 2.54 and haplotype AGG, Pc = 0.048, OR = 0.63, respectively). The SNP rs686921 was associated with male predominance in both patients with AS (p = 0.032, OR 1.54) and controls (p = 0.014, OR 1.94).

Conclusion.

LRP5 may be involved in the pathogenesis of AS. Further study will be required to clarify the effect of LRP5 on the pathogenic mechanism of AS.
Du côté du musée de l'Homme : nouvelles approches de la Résistance pionnière en zone occupée
Authors: Blanc Julien
Published: September 2011

Le « réseau du musée de l’Homme », organisation emblématique des débuts de la Résistance en zone occupée, semble bien connu. Une étude précise permet pourtant de souligner la richesse de ses composantes, la variété de ses activités ou encore l’originalité de son fonctionnement, loin de l’image d’Épinal qui s’est imposée. À travers le cas d’école du musée de l’Homme, ce sont quelques-unes des spécificités de cette première désobéissance qui sont ici mises en lu-mière.
« La coutume de la prévôté de Caen »
Authors: Jean-Marie Laurence
Published: September 2011

Cette édition de sources livre trois versions successives de la « la coutume de la prévôté de Caen » (consuetudo in prefectura Cadomi). Le texte latin, connu par trois copies de la fin du XIII e ou du début du XIV e siècle, pourrait être antérieur d’au moins un siècle. Une version en français, probablement attribuable au deuxième tiers du XIV e siècle et un texte moderne, imprimé en 1595, sont connus par des copies du XIX e siècle. Malgré les différences entre les trois versions, les permanences justifient l’association des trois textes dans la présente édition. Surtout, ce sont des sources riches et non de simples listes de produits et de taxes y afférent. Les informations fournies dépassent l’histoire proprement économique. Ces textes prennent en compte entrée, sortie et transit des marchandises. C’est la ville mais aussi l’espace qui en dépend, banlieue et ressort de la prévôté, qui sont ainsi mis en avant. La désignation des catégories de populations et des exemptions peut fournir des enseignements en matière d’histoire sociale et politique. Transports par terre, mer et fleuve sont évoqués de même que les lieux de commerce dans la ville et les temps de l’échange. Les denrées et marchandises sont soigneusement énumérées et quantifiées, en ce sens ces textes ont un intérêt linguistique évident. Bien qu’il s’agisse de textes normatifs, ces documents peuvent contribuer à l’étude des productions et des échanges économiques.
Le libéralisme comme recherche de la justice
Authors: Inoue Tatsuo
Published: September 2011

Résumé Qu’a été le libéralisme ? Qu’est-il maintenant ? Que doit-il devenir ? L’objectif de cet article est de présenter une clé pour répondre à ces questions. Après avoir montré la crise du libéralisme contemporain dans mon préambule, j’indique le sens pratique du libéralisme en tant que pensée qui remédie aux problèmes réels rencontrés actuellement par le Japon, l’Asie, le monde. Le libéralisme a en soi la puissance réformatrice critique pour lutter contre la réalité des oppressions et des discriminations bien enracinées dans le monde contemporain, mais les courants de pensée contemporains occidentaux la font se corroder. Par une critique radicale, en discernant exactement les faces positives et négatives inclues dans les deux héritages des Lumières et de la tolérance à l’origine du libéralisme, pour surmonter les faces négatives des deux et combiner leurs deux faces positives, j’explicite le sens de la justice universelle et refonde le libéralisme pour ouvrir la voie d’un renouveau du libéralisme en tant que pensée réformatrice critique.
L'autopoïèse et l'« individu » en train de se faire
Authors: Kawamoto Hideo
Published: September 2011

Résumé La notion d’autopoïèse, proposée par Humbert R. Maturana et Francisco J. Varela, comme processus par lequel le vivant se produit lui-même a ses racines dans la Critique de la faculté de juger de Kant. Mais il convient d’en préciser la nature en introduisant la notion clé de « double opération » et en insistant sur les rapports de l’autopoïèse avec l’environnement.
Vers la profondeur du sensible : La Phénoménologie de l'esprit de Hegel et la compassion du bouddhisme du Grand Véhicule
Authors: Ryôsuke Ôhashi
Published: September 2011

Résumé Dans toutes les étapes de la Phénoménologie de l’esprit , la sensibilité ( die Sinnlichkeit) est répétée comme « moment », et le sensible (das Sinnliche) est un « élément » qui constitue le cheminement total du processus du phénomène de l’« esprit ». La première est une fonction logique du mouvement ayant une structure « déductive ». Le second est la matière originale et le lieu lorsque ce mouvement prend ici de multiples formes. Cette distinction a pour effet de changer la compréhension traditionnelle du sens commun. Le sens commun non commun, c’est le sens commun dans la communauté contenant l’Étrangeté absolue. Dans l’étape de la religion de la Phénoménologie de l’esprit , nous pouvons lire ce sens commun non commun comme s’approfondissant dans le pathos commun (sympathie) non commun qui comporte à la fois la passion et la volonté. On peut affirmer que le pathos entre Dieu comme sentiment de Sa mort et l’homme est philosophiquement lié à la compassion dont parle le bouddhisme du Grand Véhicule.
Creating networks, creating in-groups: Choice of vocabulary in The Economist editorials
Authors: Mullen John
Published: September 2011

On a souvent suggéré que l’anglais international des affaires est d’une nature simplifiée et s’est séparé de ses racines culturelles. Pourtant, dans la rubrique “stratégies en affaires” de The Economist, nous avons remarqué une complexité lexicale très marquée. Le présent article examine les choix lexicaux dans les éditoriaux de cette revue et en propose une analyse explicative.
À propos d’À propos d’Elly
Authors: Digard Jean-Pierre
Published: September 2011

Prenant pour point de départ l’analyse du long métrage À propos d’Elly d’Asghar Farhadi (2009) comme d’un film sur le mensonge, Jean-Pierre Digard recense et situe dans leur contexte les différentes formes de mensonge, et de pratiques assimilées, les plus courantes en Iran. Il cherche ensuite à identifier les éléments qui, dans la culture iranienne et/ou dans la religion musulmane chiite, pourraient permettre ou favoriser de telles pratiques.
Bonne fouille ne saurait mentir ?
Authors: Besson Claire , Chaoui-Derieux Dorothée , Desachy Bruno
Published: September 2011

Peut-on prétendre faire de l’archéologie et mentir ? Comment peuvent se trouver associées cette discipline et cette posture, l’une visant la mise au jour d’éléments qu’il faudra interpréter le plus objectivement possible en s’entourant de garanties scientifiques, l’autre visant à la falsification et à la dissimulation ? Parmi les motivations qui poussent à fausser un discours scientifique, outre la quête de reconnaissance, deux exemples permettent de saisir les relations entre archéologie et mensonge : le « besoin de merveilleux » de la para-archéologie, et la récupération géopolitique. Ou comment l’archéologie, sans cesse en cours d’élaboration, voit utiliser cette précarité à son corps défendant et contribue à forger des mensonges sous couvert de scientificité.
L’État néolibéral ment-il ?
Authors: Didier Emmanuel
Published: September 2011

En France, les statistiques sont souvent accusées d’être mensongères, surtout lorsqu’elles sont produites par l’État. Cet article se penche sur le cas des statistiques actuelles portant sur la délinquance et l’insécurité. S’inscrivant dans la tradition de l’étude des dénonciations publiques, l’article entend montrer comment divers acteurs sociaux accusent les statistiques policières de mentir, et selon quelles opérations à la fois sociales et cognitives ils établissent leur point de vue. Inversement, il s’agit d’étudier comment les producteurs de ces chiffres se défendent de telles accusations. Si cette contribution ne saurait trancher un débat qui ne l’a toujours pas été par ses acteurs eux-mêmes, elle entend néanmoins considérablement en éclaircir les termes.
Comment le rustique vint au village
Authors: Mihâilescu Vintilâ
Published: September 2011

Dans une société encore rurale et agricole comme la Roumanie, l’aménagement de la maisnie reste un indicateur important des transformations structurales de la société. Après la chute du communisme, et surtout après l’instauration de la libre circulation européenne, les campagnes roumaines ont ainsi commencé à être peuplées de « maisons d’orgueil » qui clamaient une émancipation des paysans et une rupture ostentatoire avec le passé et le local. Du même coup, le travail paysan était chassé de l’espace domestique. Récemment, une nouvelle vague « rustique » s’est installée, envisageant un ré-ancrage fantasmé dans l’esprit du lieu. L’article poursuit ce processus complexe de domestication de la modernité et ses enjeux, de l’ostentation et du simulacrum à la reconnaissance sociale et à la quête de l’authenticité.
Construire l’avenir
Authors: Laszczkowski Mateusz
Published: September 2011

Les nouvelles constructions d’Astana, la capitale du Kazakhstan, relèvent d’un projet tout à la fois symbolique et politique. L’auteur suggère que le matériel et l’imaginaire sont fusionnés à Astana afin de créer une « hétérotopie », au sens foucaldien du terme, un site distinct de la réalité prosaïque du Kazakhstan contemporain. Ce nouvel espace attire des migrants des quatre coins du pays en leur faisant miroiter une vision d’un futur personnel plus riant. Ces constructions présentent aux citoyens une mise en scène de l’État en tant que cadre de sociabilité viable, tandis que leur temporalité immobilise dans les limbes les relations de pouvoir.
An Implementation of MAC Grid-Based IIM-Stokes Solver for Incompressible Two-Phase Flows
Authors: Tan Zhijun , Lim K. M. , Khoo B. C.
Published: September 2011

In this paper, a novel implementation of immersed interface method combined with Stokes solver on a MAC staggered grid for solving the steady two-fluid Stokes equations with interfaces. The velocity components along the interface are introduced as two augmented variables and the resulting augmented equation is then solved by the GMRES method. The augmented variables and /or the forces are related to the jumps in pressure and the jumps in the derivatives of both pressure and velocity, and are interpolated using cubic splines and are then applied to the fluid through the jump conditions. The Stokes equations are discretized on a staggered Cartesian grid via a second order finite difference method and solved by the conjugate gradient Uzawa-type method. The numerical results show that the overall scheme is second order accurate. The major advantages of the present IIM-Stokes solver are the efficiency and flexibility in terms of types of fluid flow and different boundary conditions. The proposed method avoids solution of the pressure Poisson equation, and comparisons are made to show the advantages of time savings by the present method. The generalized two-phase Stokes solver with correction terms has also been applied to incompressible two-phase Navier-Stokes flow.
Labor Market Returns to Higher Education in Vietnam
Authors: Doan Tinh , Stevens Philip
Published: September 2011

This paper employs the Ordinary Least Squares, Instrumental Variables and Treatment Effect models to a new dataset from the Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey (VHLSS) to estimate return to four-year university education in 2008. Our estimates reveal that income premium of four-year university education is about 97 percent above that of high school education, and robust to the various estimators.
Source apportionment of size and time resolved trace elements and organic aerosols from an urban courtyard site in Switzerland
Authors: Richard A. , Gianini M. F. D. , Mohr C. , Furger M. , Bukowiecki N. , Minguillón M. C. , Lienemann P. , Flechsig U. , Appel K. , DeCarlo P. F. , Heringa M. F. , Chirico R. , Baltensperger U. , Prévôt A. S. H.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. Time and size resolved data of trace elements were obtained from measurements with a rotating drum impactor (RDI) and subsequent X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Trace elements can act as indicators for the identification of sources of particulate matter <10 μm (PM10) in ambient air. Receptor modeling was performed with positive matrix factorization (PMF) for trace element data from an urban background site in Zürich, Switzerland. Eight different sources were identified for the three examined size ranges (PM1−0.1, PM2.5−1 and PM10−2.5): secondary sulfate, wood combustion, fire works, road traffic, mineral dust, de-icing salt, industrial and local anthropogenic activities. The major component was secondary sulfate for the smallest size range; the road traffic factor was found in all three size ranges. This trace element analysis is complemented with data from an Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS), assessing the PM1 fraction of organic aerosols. A separate PMF analysis revealed three factors related to three of the sources found with the RDI: oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA, related to inorganic secondary sulfate), hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA, related to road traffic) and biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA), explaining 60 %, 22 % and 17 % of total measured organics, respectively. Since different compounds are used for the source classification, a higher percentage of the ambient PM10 mass concentration can be apportioned to sources by the combination of both methods.