bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Le commerce extérieur de l'U.R.S.S. au cours des années quatre-vingt : évolution et perspectives de développement
Authors: Colucci Mario
Published: November 2010

Mario Colucci. — Le commerce extérieur de l'U.R.S.S. au cours des années quatre-vingt : évolution et perspectives de développement.

L'article fait ressortir que le rythme d'expansion du commerce extérieur soviétique s'est fortement ralenti au cours des années 1980 devenant légèrement inférieur à celui du revenu national net. L'examen de l'évolution de la structure sectorielle du commerce extérieur de l'U.R.S.S. confirme la thèse que le ralentissement par rapport aux deux décennies précédentes est dû à l'incapacité de ce pays à exporter autre chose que des matières premières non alimentaires dont l'abondance tend évidemment à s'épuiser. Il en résulte que les espoirs d'un développement rapide des échanges extérieurs de l'U.R.S.S. risquent d'être déçus si les réformes économiques en cours ne parviennent pas à transformer suffisamment le système productif soviétique pour qu'il puisse devenir exportateur de produits finis à des rythmes permettant de compenser largement la baisse tendantielle des exportations de matières premières.

On constate pour l'instant que le bilan des deux premières années de perestroïka (1986-1987) est décevant en ce qui concerne l'expansion du commerce extérieur. II est vrai que la réforme de l'entreprise n'est entrée en vigueur qu'en 1988. Mais sans une réforme réelle des prix et sans la création d'un véritable marché des échanges interindustriels, on peut douter de son efficacité. On juge enfin peu satisfaisantes les mesures tendant à établir des liens directs entre les entreprises soviétiques et les marchés extérieurs. En conclusion, on se déclare très sceptique quant à la possibilité de développements spectaculaires du commerce extérieur de l'U.R.S.S., du moins à court et moyen termes.
La Hongrie, tête de pont des marchés de l'Est
Authors: Molnar Thomas P.
Published: November 2010

Thomas P. Molnar. — La Hongrie, « tète de pont » des marchés de l'Est.

Le système soviétique, tel qu'il fut bâti, est entré dans une phase de transformation accélérée à la veille du grand marché européen.

Certains pays, comme la R.F.A., le Japon, les États-Unis, l'Italie ou la Corée du Sud voient, aujourd'hui, de réelles opportunités pour se positionner sur ce marché fort de plus de 400 millions de personnes.

Une des approches consiste à développer les relations économiques avec le pays le plus libéral du bloc, la Hongrie ; à travers des investissements dans des entreprises mixtes ou simplement en augmentant les échanges commerciaux.

La Hongrie qui jouit depuis plus de vingt ans de l'image du pays le plus libéral du CAEM, pourrait, aujourd'hui, jouer un rôle fondamental dans le développement des échanges Est-Ouest. Cependant, les efforts d'ouverture menés par les dirigeants hongrois suscitent certaines méfiances chez les hommes d'affaire occidentaux et notamment français, au regard des résultats des échanges bilatéraux.

Mais à l'heure où l'Europe se transforme, les entreprises françaises ne devraient pas négliger les opportunités offertes par ce pays, à l'instar de leurs principaux concurrents.

A l'heure actuelle, personne ne peut prédire l'avenir mais il est évident que le système du CAEM, tel qu'il fut conçu, est dans une période de bouleversement et une forme de « libéralisme » se met en place. Certes, il peut exister des périodes de réaction mais le retour en arrière est impossible.
Les finances publiques en Suisse
Authors: Schwartz Jean-Jacques
Published: November 2010

Public finance in Switzerland.

The public finance system in Switzerland consists of a state structure on three levels : the central State (the Confederation), the historical States which made up the Confederation (the cantons), and local collectivities (the communes). The Confederation, the totality of the cantons and the communes, each account for approximately one third of total public expenditure.

A second characteristic of the system is that the Confereration has no local administrative bodies, it being the cantons which are responsible for the implementation of many federal programmes. As a consequence of this, there is a sizeable flow of compensatory payments from the Confederation to the cantons.

Thirdly, the Confederation prefers, in many sectors, to confine itself to subsidies. Thus it assumes on a fairly generous scale the burden of financing cantonal tasks. The result of this policy is a sizeable flow of grants among the various levels of the state.

In overall terms, public finances are in a "healthy" state, if by that one means that income covers outgoings, in other words that the public sector shows a surplus overall. In this respect, Switzerland seems to constitute an exception to the international norm.

Lastly, Swiss fiscal policy is marked by a very large weight of direct taxation, indirect taxes (for example turnover tax, sales tax, taxes on certain transactions) playing a relatively minor role.
La convention fiscale franco-soviétique et les échanges entre la France et l'U.R.S.S
Authors: Douchez Valérie
Published: November 2010

Conclue le 4 octobre 1985 lors de la visite de M. Gorbatchev à Paris, au terme de cinq années de négociations souvent difficiles, la convention fiscale franco-soviétique est entrée en vigueur le 28 mars 1987. Son objet est, comme toutes les conventions fiscales bilatérales, de prévenir les phénomènes de double imposition  c'est-à-dire la percep- tion simultanée d'un impôt de même nature, auprès de la même personne, par deux États différents  . Elle s'inspire à cet effet d'un modèle type établi par l'O.C.D.E., et contient donc de nombreuses stipulations communes aux conventions habituellement passées par la France.

L'intérêt de cette convention est de constituer, par-delà le cadre parfois austère de la stricte technique fiscale, un moyen d'appréhender la problématique plus générale des relations franco-soviétiques. Dans cette perspective, cet article analyse les intentions des négociateurs français et les conséquences prévisibles, pour la France, d'un tel accord.

Destinée à encourager le développement des relations franco-soviétiques en fournissant aux échanges  notamment culturels et, surtout, économiques , un dispositif fiscal approprié et complet, la convention du 4 octobre 1985 répond à deux objectifs plus ou moins explicites. Il s'agit, d'une part, de favoriser la signature de grands contrats et, d'autre part, de permettre à la France d'occuper un rang privilégié parmi les partenaires occidentaux de l'U.R.S.S.

La convention franco-soviétique est-elle susceptible de satisfaire des objectifs si ambitieux ? La réponse à cette question ne peut être que nuancée. Bien que cet accord soit plutôt favorable, tant au Trésor qu'aux entreprises françaises, notamment en ce qui concerne les sociétés mixtes franco-soviétiques, il ne semble pas que l'on doive en attendre un plus grand dynamisme des investisseurs français en U.R.S.S. L'auteur souligne combien le contexte actuel, peu propice au commerce entre la France et l'U.R.S.S., marginalise les considérations tenant à la fiscalité des revenus réalisés en Union soviétique dans les décisions des agents économiques français participant aux échanges franco-soviétiques.

En définitive, la convention du 4 octobre 1985 n'est qu'indirectement susceptible de léser les intérêts français, car, si elle n'encourage pas expressément les transferts de technologie à 1'U.R.S.S., elle ne contient aucune disposition qui puisse les dissuader.

A travers l'étude de cette convention se pose donc une question plus générale, que l'auteur ne prétend pas résoudre : est-il opportun de considérer l'U.R.S.S. comme un partenaire ordinaire, en lui appliquant le même traitement fiscal qu'aux pays de l'O.C.D.E. ? Ne serait-il pas plus prudent de traiter avec l'U.R.S.S. en tenant compte des spécificités des relations franco-soviétiques et, plus particulièrement, du commerce entre la France et TU.R.S.S. ?
La « nouvelle pensée » politique occidentale de l'U.R.S.S
Authors: Ouimet Gérard
Published: November 2010

The « new thinking » of Soviet occidental policy

There are some who willingly admit that the USSR has for many years shown the precursory signs of profound economic stagnation, extreme social disillusionment and pernicious politico-institutional inadequacy. Consequently Mikhail Gorbachev, reaching power in March 1985, finds himself immediately confronted with the imperious obligation to counter the weakening of Soviet society's dynamism. Moreover, it is not only the country's internal situation that requires an immediate cleaning up. Over the past two decades, the Kremlin's avatars of diplomacy, reaching a paroxystic level with disastrous intervention in Afghanistan, indubitably indicate that on the international scene the USSR's status as a super-power is becoming less and less credible. Thus, conscious of the urgent — if not dramatic — nature of the USSR's present situation, Mikhail Gorbachev strongly intends to substitute the decrepitude of some anachronistic structural and functional components of the system with the appeal of new elements, alone capable of generating internal as well as external support, so essential to complete actualization of current reform.

The adoption of reformist orientation, however, doesn't allow Gorbachev's rhetoric concerning nuclear disarmement, democratization, cultural liberalization and respect for human rights to be considered a « substantial » transformation of the Soviet system, but rather a « formal » adaptation whose only goal is the systemic revitalization of the country. In fact, the realization of perestroïka, strictly motivated by the necessities of survival, demands a calm climate at the international level, favourable on the one hand to the establishment of « new Socialist thinking » giving greater importance to the training, discipline and responsibility of production agents (decision makers and executors), and on the other hand, to the granting of funds and occidental technological transfers so essential to the modernization process undertaken by the new ruling team. In spite of the conspicuous campaign of seduction directed towards the West that she has orchestred, the USSR nonetheless has not renounced her hegemonic designs beyond her borders.

Consequently, it is essential to clearly understand, beyond the recurrent Soviet pacifist talk, the real underlying intentions of apparent bringing together of East and West initiated by Moscow. What are the top priorities of the USSR's current occidental policy and how this policy distinguish itself from its predecessors ? Such are the fundamental questions which an analysis of Gorbachev's occidental policy will attempt to answer.
Régulation et réforme en U.R.S.S
Authors: Roland Gérard
Published: November 2010

Cet article propose d'examiner les contraintes de régulation ou d'équilibrage de la perestroïka en U.R.S.S. aujourd'hui.

Dans une première partie, l'auteur pose la question de l'équilibre dans une économie de type soviétique : comment se fait-il que les décisions décentralisées d'agents économiques interdépendants, dans une économie fondamentalement non marchande et où les plans sont notoirement et nécessairement déséquilibrés, n'aboutisse pas au chaos, mais puisse produire une certaine cohérence ? Tout en montrant l'importance de la question de l'équilibre, l'auteur en propose une analyse dans une optique de rationalité limitée. Il identifie 6 procédures fondamentales de régulation et montre comment leur interaction peut aboutir à l'équilibre.

La deuxième partie de l'article mobilise les résultats de la première partie pour analyser le processus de réformes en cours en U.R.S.S. L'analyse des contraintes d'équilibrage permet de comprendre la stabilité du mode de régulation existant et d'expliquer les échecs de réformes partielles comme la gospriernka, l'épisode des gosza- kazy en 1988, l'incapacité à réduire le pouvoir des ministères, ainsi que l'échec d'autres réformes partielles dans le passé. L'auteur montre l'incompatibilité fondamentale de long terme entre le processus de démocratisation actuel, d'une part, et le mode de régulation existant, d'autre part. Finalement, il examine les problèmes liés à la suppression de la planification imperative dans une économie de pénurie. Il montre aussi que le processus même de transition vers le modèle de l'économie réformée produira probablement une économie mixte plutôt que le socialisme de marché imaginé par les économistes réformateurs.
La criminalité économique en U.R.S.S., ses formes et son ampleur
Authors: Duhamel Luc
Published: November 2010

Economie criminality in the USSR : forms and size

This work evaluats the size of economic criminality in the USSR. The informations was gathered largely from soviet newspapers in the Gorbachev'era. Those goods most often associated with economic criminality are : first, food and alcool products, and, secondly, cars, spare parts, fuel, construction materials, clothing, money and audio- equipments. Speculation, embezzlement and fraud are the main types of infractions associated with these goods. We examine the more common ways to commit these infractions.

Particular types of crimes are usually related to specific groups. For example, speculation is most often correlated with agricultural production, embezzlement with trade, and fraud with factories and gaz stations. Crimes in connection with particular types of products are also linked to different variables such as occupations, sex, geographical locations and ethnic groups. Workers in transport are often engaged in speculation related to agricultural products, they also steal quantities of fuel. Employees in trade network and food industry are largely involved in embezzlement in workplaces. Other occupations are strongly linked with criminal activities : accounting, police work, custom work and security work.

In the USSR, the state do not adequately provide the population with variety of goods and services. Transport, home and cottage construction, car repair, home renovation, renting of room, shadow production of such goods like clothing, are, to a large extent, private services, most of them illegal until 1987.

Economic criminality include infractions specific to ordinary citizens — speculation, embezzlement, and private work ; most often, other infractions are in favor among the nomenklatura : bribery, nepotism and favoritism. Economic criminality is popular among the upper echelons of the ruling class in Moscow during the Brejnev's tenure, but less after 1982. In the leadership of asian and transcaucasian republics, of certain instances of power inside the Kremlin and in certain regions of Russia, corruption is present until 1985 and even during the first years of the Gorbachev's period. In the lower echelons of the society, generally speaking, minor changes occur from one period to another, from one leader to another.
Les nouvelles coopératives soviétiques : essor et contraintes
Authors: Mario Nuti Domenico
Published: November 2010

The new Soviet Cooperatives : advances and limitations

From the end of NEP until recently, Soviet cooperative enterprises have consisted primarily of large collective farms (kolkhozy) virtually undistinguishible from state farms and of consumption cooperatives especially in housing. The latest wave of radical reform in the USSR has led to the important rediscovery and revamping of cooperatives ; after encouraging policy pronouncements and Government decrees in 1987, a Draft Law on Soviet Cooperatives was published in March 1988, and after considerable public discussion and modifications, it was approved at the end of May 1988. In the year ending July 1988, the total number of Soviet cooperatives grew from 3,709 to 32,561 while their turnover grew from 29.2 mn to 1.04 bn rubles.

This paper reviews and compares draft and final texts of the Law, and stresses both the significant progress made through this legislation towards the development of the non-state sector and the « marketisation » of the USSR, and at the same time the limitations of the new legal regime on Soviet cooperatives. Some of these limitations are due to the specific provisions of the Law : the detailed list of sectors of activity, their lack of competitive access to resources, their inability to set prices. Some are related to the general limitations of traditional cooperatives : restrictive employment policy, inefficiency deriving from likely attempts at maximising income per member, and investment bias due to the non appropriability of self-financed investment. The introduction of shares might solve these problems but the Law envisages no more than variable interest bonds without vote, redeemable at face value (except in case of liquidation when a participation in cooperative net capital is possible, but only partially). The conflict between equality and efficiency in the taxation of cooperatives and their members has not been resolved. In these conditions it is doubtful whether Soviet cooperatives' « immense potential » will be fully realised.
Quelques remarques concernant le Système de comptabilité sociale face au Système de comptabilité nationale des Nations Unies (S.C.N.)
Authors: Meyer Monique
Published: November 2010

En cette période de restructuration de l'économie soviétique, l'intérêt porté à la demande finale des ménages non seulement en biens matériels mais aussi en services, se traduit par une discussion quant à l'adéquation des concepts utilisés pour définir les grandeurs macro-économiques. Il en résulte ainsi une remise en cause des notions fondamentales de la comptabilité nationale soviétique appelée comptabilité du produit matériel, système des balances de l'économie nationale ou encore comptabilité sociale.

Dans le cadre de cet article, on s'interroge sur les relations existant entre le système normalisé des Nations Unies, utilisé pour définir les agrégats et les différentes règles de comptabilisation des flux, et les agrégats et règles retenus dans le système de la comptabilité sociale.

Il apparaît que si un examen superficiel peut conclure, sur la base d'une comparaison formelle des définitions, en une grande ressemblance, ces similitudes des termes recouvrent en fait des réalités différentes. Tandis que le système des Nations Unies sans se référer explicitement à aucune théorie économique retient de fait les définitions de la micro-économique, le schéma de comptabilité sociale repose quant à lui explicitement sur le schéma de reproduction élargie de Marx et la loi de la valeur travail.

De telle sorte que les mêmes termes ont des significations différentes dans les deux systèmes. Le cadre de définition de la production implique celui de la délimitation entre les consommations et les transferts. Le principe de la productivité du seul travail se traduit par des différences d'enregistrement. Le mode de détermination des prix hors des mécanismes du marché ne permet pas de comparaison des valorisations. L'accent mis sur la répartition et non sur la production se répercute sur les catégories et les modes d'enregistrement retenus dans le modèle.

La comptabilité nationale est un modèle simplifié des relations économiques. Le rapprochement du Système de comptabilité sociale apparaît ainsi non pas comme un simple problème technique, mais comme une nouvelle traduction des relations sociales, laquelle signifie une nouvelle conception de ces relations, et donc soit un abandon de la théorie de la valeur travail, soit une nouvelle interprétation de la théorie marxiste.

C'est pourquoi en cette période de réforme, les discussions en ce domaine, considéré habituellement comme relevant de la pure technique, sont en plein essor.
Adaptive Hypermedia Systems for E-Learning
Authors: Souhaib Aammou , Mohamed Khaldi , Kamal Eddine El Kadiri , Ahmed Ibrahimi
Published: November 2010

The domain of traditional hypermedia is revolutionized by the arrival of the concept of adaptation. Currently the domain of Adaptive Hypermedia Systems (AHS) is constantly growing. A major goal of current research is to provide a personalized educational experience that meets the needs specific to each learner (knowledge level, goals, motivation etc...). In this article we have studied the possibility of implementing traditional features of adaptive hypermedia in an open environment, and discussed the standards for describing learning objects and architectural models based on the use of ontologies as a prerequisite for such an adaptation.
Emotions in Serious Games: From Experience to Assessment
Authors: Anolli Luigi , Mantovani Fabrizia , Confalonieri Linda , Ascolese Antonio , Peveri L.
Published: November 2010

Serious Games represent a global revolution that promises to develop intuitive, affordable, accessible and familiar learning environments for a wide range of educational and training applications. Serious Games are computer or video games in which education is the primary goal, rather than entertainment. Serious Games offer different benefits due to the integration of simulation aspects, game aspects and pedagogical elements at the same time. Among the different assets that Serious Games provide for learning, we will focus in this paper on their ability to leverage the synergy between emotional and learning appropriation processes. We will first outline the specific features of learning opportunities offered by Serious Games considering the involvement of emotions in this learning process. The following part of the paper will be dedicated to the description of the methods for the analysis of the emotional experience of SG users. Finally, we will explore a new promising research direction concerning the use of Affective Computing in Serious Games.
Elastosis Perforans Serpiginosa in a patient with Down syndrome treated with imiquimod 5% cream.
Authors: Gregersen Pernille Axèl , Stausbøl-Grøn Birgitte , Ramsing Mette , Sommerlund Mette
Published: November 2010

Elastosis Perforans Serpiginosa (EPS) is a rare skin disease characterised by hyperkeratotic papules, transepidermal elimination of abnormal elastic fibres, and focal dermal elastosis. The aetiology is unknown, but an association with underlying systemic disorders, including Down syndrome has been describ­ed. Treatment is often difficult. A 45-year old man with Down syndrome presented with symmetrical annular elements on forearms and femora. The elements were erythematous with atrophic hypopigmented central healing and peripherally, infiltrated keratotic papules with desquamation. A punch biopsy showed the classical histopathologic features of EPS. We found no clinical signs of cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease. We initiated topical therapy with imiquimod 5% cream once a day for 6 weeks followed by 3 times weekly for 4 weeks to a single element. As regression of EPS was observed and the patient tolerated the therapy well, treatment of other lesions was commenced, and further regression was seen.
Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XLVIII . Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting domestic cats and wild felids in southern Africa
Authors: Horak Ivan G. , Heyne Heloise , Donkin Edward F.
Published: November 2010

Ticks collected from domestic cats (Felis catus), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus),caracals (Caracal caracal), African wild cats (Felis lybica), black-footed cats (Felis nigripes), a serval (Leptailurus serval), lions(Panthera leo), and leopards (Panthera pardus) were identified and counted. Thirteen species of ixodid ticks and one argasid tick were identified from domestic cats and 17 species of ixodid ticks from wild felids. The domestic cats and wild felids harboured 11 ixodid species in common. The adults of Haemaphysalis elliptica, the most abundant tick species infesting cats and wild felids, were most numerous on a domestic cat in late winter and in mid-summer, during 2 consecutive years. The recorded geographic distribution of the recently described Haemaphysalis colesbergensis, a parasite of cats and caracals, was extended by 2 new locality records in the Northern Cape Province,South Africa.
The poset of closure systems on an infinite poset: detachability and semimodularity
Authors: Ronse Christian
Published: November 2010

Closure operators on a poset can be characterized by the corresponding closure systems. It is known that in a directed complete partial order (DCPO), in particular in any finite poset, the collection of all closure systems is closed under arbitrary intersection and has a “detachability” or “anti-matroid” property, which implies that the collection of all closure systems is a lower semimodular complete lattice (and dually, the closure operators form an upper semimodular complete lattice).

After reviewing the history of the problem, we generalize these results to the case of an infinite poset where closure systems do not necessarily constitute a complete lattice; thus the notions of lower semimodularity and detachability are extended accordingly. We also give several examples showing that many properties of closure systems on a complete lattice do not extend to infinite posets.
Bounded lattice structured discriminator varieties
Authors: Ramalho Margarita
Published: November 2010

This paper is concerned with bounded lattice structured discriminator varieties, i.e., discriminator varieties interpreting the variety L01 of bounded lattices.
Urcohomologies and cohomologies of $N$-complexes
Authors: Hiramatsu Naoya , Kato Goro C.
Published: November 2010

For a general sequence of objects and morphisms, we construct two

N

-complexes. Then we can define cohomologies

(i, k)

-type of the

N

-complexes not only on a diagonal region but also in the triangular region. We obtain an invariant defined on a general sequence of objects and morphisms. For a short exact sequence of

N

-complexes, we get the associated long exact sequence generalizing the classical long exact sequence. Lastly, several properties of the vanishing cohomologies of

N

-complexes are given.
Recent progresses in relativistic beam-plasma instability theory
Authors: Bret A. , Dieckmann M. E. , Gremillet L.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. Beam-plasma instabilities are a key physical process in many astrophysical phenomena. Within the fireball model of Gamma ray bursts, they first mediate a relativistic collisionless shock before they produce upstream the turbulence needed for the Fermi acceleration process. While non-relativistic systems are usually governed by flow-aligned unstable modes, relativistic ones are likely to be dominated by normally or even obliquely propagating waves. After reviewing the basis of the theory, results related to the relativistic kinetic regime of the poorly-known oblique unstable modes will be presented. Relevant systems besides the well-known electron beam-plasma interaction are presented, and it is shown how the concept of modes hierarchy yields a criterion to assess the proton to electron mass ratio in Particle in cell simulations.
Phytoplankton-bacteria coupling under elevated CO2 levels: a stable isotope labelling study
Authors: de Kluijver A. , Soetaert K. , Schulz K. G. , Riebesell U. , Bellerby R. G. J. , Middelburg J. J.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. The potential impact of rising carbon dioxide (CO2) on carbon transfer from phytoplankton to bacteria was investigated during the 2005 PeECE III mesocosm study in Bergen, Norway. Sets of mesocosms, in which a phytoplankton bloom was induced by nutrient addition, were incubated under 1× (~350 μatm), 2× (~700 μatm), and 3× present day CO2 (~1050 μatm) initial seawater and sustained atmospheric CO2 levels for 3 weeks. 13C labelled bicarbonate was added to all mesocosms to follow the transfer of carbon from dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) into phytoplankton and subsequently heterotrophic bacteria, and settling particles. Isotope ratios of polar-lipid-derived fatty acids (PLFA) were used to infer the biomass and production of phytoplankton and bacteria. Phytoplankton PLFA were enriched within one day after label addition, whilst it took another 3 days before bacteria showed substantial enrichment. Group-specific primary production measurements revealed that coccolithophores showed higher primary production than green algae and diatoms. Elevated CO2 had a significant positive effect on post-bloom biomass of green algae, diatoms, and bacteria. A simple model based on measured isotope ratios of phytoplankton and bacteria revealed that CO2 had no significant effect on the carbon transfer efficiency from phytoplankton to bacteria during the bloom. There was no indication of CO2 effects on enhanced settling based on isotope mixing models during the phytoplankton bloom, but this could not be determined in the post-bloom phase. Our results suggest that CO2 effects are most pronounced in the post-bloom phase, under nutrient limitation.
Dissolved and particulate primary production along a longitudinal gradient in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: López-Sandoval D. C. , Fernández A. , Marañón E.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. We have determined the photosynthetic production of dissolved (DOCp) and particulate organic carbon (POCp) along a longitudinal transect in the Mediterranean Sea during the summer stratification period. The euphotic layer-integrated rates of DOCp and POCp ranged between approximately 50–130 and 95–210 mgC m−2 d−1, respectively, and showed an east to west increasing trend. For the whole transect, the relative contribution of DOCp to total, euphotic layer-integrated primary production (percentage of extracellular release, PER) averaged ~37% and did not show any clear longitudinal pattern. In spite of the relatively high PER values, the measured DOCp rates were much lower than the estimated bacterial carbon demand, suggesting a small degree of coupling between phytoplankton exudation and bacterial metbolism. Our results, when compared with previous measurements obtained with the same methods in several ecosystems of contrasting productivity, support the view that the relative importance of DOCp increases under strong nutrient limitation.
MADE-IN: a new aerosol microphysics submodel for global simulation of potential atmospheric ice nuclei
Authors: Aquila V. , Hendricks J. , Lauer A. , Riemer N. , Vogel H. , Baumgardner D. , Schwarz J. P. , Spackman J. R. , Weinzierl B. , Righi M. , Dall'Amico M.
Published: November 2010

Abstract. Black carbon (BC) and mineral dust are among the dominant atmospheric ice nuclei, i.e. aerosol particles that can initiate heterogeneous nucleation of ice crystals. When released, most BC and dust particles are externally mixed with other aerosol compounds. Through coagulation with particles containing soluble material and condensation of gases, externally mixed particles may obtain a coating and be transferred into an internal mixture. The mixing state of BC and dust aerosol particles influences their radiative and hygroscopic properties, as well as their ability of building ice crystals. We introduce the new aerosol microphysics submodel MADE-IN, implemented within the ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry global model (EMAC). MADE-IN is able to track separately mass and number concentrations of BC and dust particles in their different mixing states, as well as particles free of BC and dust. MADE-IN describes these three classes of particles through a superposition of seven log-normally distributed modes, and predicts the evolution of their size distribution and chemical composition. Six out of the seven modes are mutually interacting, allowing for the transfer of mass and number among them. Separate modes for the different mixing states of BC and dust particles in EMAC/MADE-IN allow for explicit simulations of the relevant aging processes, i.e. condensation, coagulation and cloud processing. EMAC/MADE-IN has been evaluated with surface and airborne measurements and performs well both in the planetary boundary layer and in the upper troposphere and lowermost stratosphere. Such a model represents a highly appropriate tool for the study of the concentration and composition of potential atmospheric ice nuclei.
Theory of strain effects on the Raman spectrum of Si‐Ge core‐shell nanowires
Authors: Menéndez J. , Singh R. , Drucker J.
Published: November 2010

An analytical model is introduced to compute the Raman spectrum of Si‐Ge core shell nanowires. For the calculation of the strain, the materials are assumed to be elastically isotropic. It is argued that the largest components of the strain tensor are not significantly affected by this approximation. The phonon modes in the presence of strain are calculated using the known deformation potential tensors for Si and Ge. Predictions are made for Si‐Ge and Ge‐Si core‐shell nanowires with axes along the 〈 011 〉 and 〈 111 〉 crystallographic directions. The results are presented in a way that makes it very simple to compare with experimental data and to extend the calculation to cases in which the shell consists of a Si1‐xGex alloy.
Transesterification‐induced cocrystallization of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) and poly(butylene succinate) blends
Authors: Huang Yulan , Bao Le , Chen Yiwang , Zhou Weihua , Tan Licheng , Yuan Shuaishuai
Published: November 2010

A series of copolyesters were prepared by the direct melt transesterification of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS). The sequential structure of the copolyesters was analyzed with proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the randomness of the copolyesters was calculated to be approximately 0.8. The cocrystallization, thermal behavior, and spherulitic morphology were investigated. The melting points of the copolyesters showed a pseudo‐eutectic behavior exhibiting isodimorphic cocrystallization. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction indicated that the copolyesters crystallized in PTT crystals when the butylene succinate (BS) unit content was less than 60% and in the PBS crystals when the BS unit content was greater than 70%. The mechanical properties of the copolyesters were greatly influenced by the sequence lengths of the aromatic and aliphatic units. The incorporation of BS units into the PTT structure led to a faster rate of degradation of the copolyesters because of the decrease in the aromatic sequence length and the increase in the aliphatic sequence length. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Probing the dynamics of water in chitosan polymer films by dielectric spectroscopy
Authors: Murugaraj P. , Mainwaring D. E. , Tonkin D. C. , Al Kobaisi M.
Published: November 2010

Chitosan biopolymers are increasingly being used in advanced biomedical applications, where aqueous interactions profoundly influence their physical properties and also their in vivo biomolecular and cellular activity. Here, hydration of chitosan films is studied by dielectric spectroscopy in a conventional constraining plate configuration and compared with free standing films. Film hydration proceeds by an initial water uptake followed by a spontaneous dehydration (deswelling) even in saturated atmospheres. At water contents above a critical value, ∼ 9.5 wt % a dielectric loss resonance peak (βwet) arises from relaxation of evolving chitosan–water complexes, below this value insufficient interchain space for oscillation of these complexes prevents βwet appearing. The βwet frequency was related to water content by a power law with the frequency changing by ∼ 3 orders of magnitude. Importantly the scaling exponents (slopes) differed significantly for unconstrained (free standing) and volume constrained films indicating the effect of internal stresses in constrained films. Both dielectric and conductivity behavior were influenced by internal constraining stresses affecting both oscillatory motion and charge mobility. In biomedical devices, biopolymers may be free standing, surface adhered, or enclosed structures imposing different internal stresses on polymer chains and the mobility of their segments. Dielectric spectroscopy can examine these influences on dielectric and electrical characteristics, which play a critical role in biomolecular interactions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
On the interesting optical properties of highly transparent, thermally stable, spin‐coated polystyrene/zinc oxide nanocomposite films
Authors: Jeeju P. P. , Jayalekshmi S.
Published: November 2010

In the present work, polystyrene/zinc oxide (PS/ZnO) nanocomposite films are prepared by simple mixing followed by film deposition, using spin‐coating technique. Although there are a few reports on the UV‐shielding properties of PS/ZnO nanocomposite films, these reports deal with rather thick films obtained by solution casting. Spin coating is a more advantageous technique where one can control the film thickness by suitably adjusting the viscosity of the solution and the spinning speed and get homogeneous films with thickness around a few hundreds of nanometers. These aspects provide the motivation for the present work where emphasis is given to investigating the optical properties of PS/ZnO nanocomposite films obtained by spin coating and analyzing the effects of each component of the composite (PS/ZnO) on the properties of the other. The nanocomposite films are found to be highly transparent throughout the visible region and the thermal stability is better compared with PS. The optical absorption of the composite films in the UV region is quite high, and this aspect highlights the prospects of applications of these films in UV shielding. The PS matrix brings about considerable surface modification of ZnO nanoparticles, resulting in the reduction of defect states within ZnO and facilitating sharp, near band edge photoluminescence emission. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Layer‐structured poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphene oxide nanocomposites with improved thermal and mechanical properties
Authors: Yang Xiaoming , Shang Songmin , Li Liang
Published: November 2010

Layer‐structured poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphene oxide nanocomposites in the form of films are prepared by simple solution processing. The structure and properties of these nanocomposites are studied using X‐ray diffractions, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicate that graphene oxide is dispersed on a molecular scale and aligned in the poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix, and there exists strong interfacial interactions between both components, which are responsible for the significant improvement in the thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Macroalgae in the intertidal zone of Cantabrian Sea: richness, cover of characteristic and opportunistic species
Authors: García Pilar , Pesquera Luis Miguel Gutiérrez , Redondo Eva Zapico
Published: November 2010

Macroalgae are one of the biological parameters considered in the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) for establishing the ecological status of coastal water bodies. In order to test the metric used to assess this element in the Cantabrian coast, the quality of rocky bottoms (CFR) index was applied to 164 transects at 28 sites on the coast of Asturias (northern Spain) in the summers of 2007 and 2008.

At each sampling point, three variables were measured: species richness, cover of characteristic and opportunistic macroalgae, and in 2008 the percentage of the area occupied by each characteristic species was also estimated.

Application of the Shapiro–Wilk test to the variables ‘cover of characteristic macroalgae’ and ‘cover of opportunistic algae’ revealed that the data were not normally distributed (P<0.001). A Kolmogorov–Smirnov test revealed: (a) significant differences (P<0.01) between the exposed and semi‐exposed sites, for the three variables studied; (b) significant differences in cover, for six species depending on the type of exposure; and (c) significant differences (P<0.01) in opportunistic macroalgal cover in relation to the two subtypes of water bodies in the study area. However, no significant differences were observed for overall macroalgal cover or species richness.

According to the results obtained, new reference conditions and class boundaries are proposed for the implementation of the CFR index in Asturian coastal waters. The ranges proposed for the CFR index in the present study provide better discrimination for evaluating the ecological status of the studied area.

The results of SIMPER and MDS analyses reinforced the conclusion that the type of exposure and the degree of human impact are the factors that best explain the degree of similarity between the sites sampled. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Investigation of Copper Phthalocyanine and Truxenone Derivative Binary Superstructures on Graphite
Authors: Liu Jia , Wang Dong , Wang Jie‐Yu , Pei Jian , Wan Li‐Jun
Published: November 2010

The binary self‐assembly of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and 2,3,7,8,12,13‐hexahexyloxy‐truxenone (TrO23) at the solid/liquid interface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was investigated by using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS). Pseduohexagonal and linear patterned superstructures of CuPc are obtained by co‐adsorbing with TrO23. High‐resolution STM images reveal the structural details of the arrangement of TrO23 and CuPc in the binary assembly structures. The molecular ratio between CuPc and TrO23 in the adlayer can be modulated by the CuPc concentration in liquid phase. The electronic properties of CuPc and TrO23 in the co‐adsorbed self‐assembly are investigated by STS. The results presented here are helpful to the design and fabrication of multi‐component functional molecular nanostructures.
Evaluation of procedure-based assessment for assessing trainees' skills in the operating theatre
Authors: Marriott J , Purdie H , Crossley J , Beard J D
Published: November 2010

Background

Procedure-based assessment (PBA) is used within most UK surgical training programmes for assessing trainees' procedural skills in the operating theatre. All postgraduate assessment methods require evidence to support their implementation. The aims were to evaluate the validity, reliability and acceptability of PBA.

Methods

Eighty-one trainees in six surgical specialties were assessed performing common procedures; 749 PBAs were provided across 348 operations by 57 clinical supervisors and four independent assessors.

Results

Construct validity was demonstrated by correlation of PBA scores with measures of surgical training and experience. Reliability (G exceeding 0·8) of the adjusted total item score and global summary score for a given procedure was achieved using four and three assessor judgements respectively; assessing a mix of procedures required more cases/assessors because performance is procedure specific. The acceptability of PBA for assessment and feedback within surgical training was predominantly positive among clinical supervisors and trainees.

Conclusion

PBA demonstrated good overall validity and acceptability, and exceptionally high reliability. Trainees should be assessed adequately for each given procedure.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of statin therapy on abdominal aortic aneurysms
Authors: Twine C P , Williams I M
Published: November 2010

Background

The aim was to investigate the effects of statin therapy on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease.

Methods

PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for all studies on any clinical effect of statin therapy on AAA. Outcomes were selected based on their inclusion in two or more studies: AAA expansion rate, 30-day mortality, and short- and long-term postoperative mortality. The data were subjected to meta-analysis by outcome.

Results

Twelve cohort studies were selected for inclusion involving 11 933 individuals. Meta-analysis of four studies examining all-cause postoperative mortality showed a significant improvement with statin therapy at 1, 2 and 5 years (odds ratio (OR) at 5 years 0·57, 95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 0·42 to 0·79; P < 0·001) with minimal heterogeneity between the four included studies. There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality after AAA treatment in patients on statin therapy (OR 0·22, 0·02 to 2·90; P = 0·25). Sensitivity analysis including four high-quality studies examining AAA expansion rates showed no significant difference with statin therapy: standardized mean difference −0·14 (95 per cent c.i. −0·33 to −0·05) mm/year (P = 0·16).

Conclusion

The claim of a reduction in AAA expansion rate with statin therapy is based on low-quality evidence and was not significant on meta-analysis. However, statin therapy did appear to improve all-cause survival after AAA repair.
Biological Evaluation and Structural Determinants of p38α Mitogen‐Activated‐Protein Kinase and c‐Jun‐N‐Terminal Kinase 3 Inhibition by Flavonoids
Authors: Goettert Márcia , Schattel Verena , Koch Pierre , Merfort Irmgard , Laufer Stefan
Published: November 2010

A series of 42 naturally occurring flavonoids and one flavonoid glucuronide were tested for their ability to inhibit p38α mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p38α) and c‐Jun‐N‐terminal kinase 3 (JNK3). Potent inhibitors with IC50values in the low micromolar range were identified. Structure–activity relationships were evaluated and the most promising compounds were docked into the ATP binding site of these kinases. Among the different classes of flavonoids, the flavonol group showed better inhibition of p38α. Of this class, kaempferol‐7,4′‐dimethylether was a potent p38α inhibitor, displaying 13‐fold selectivity for p38α over JNK3. The flavone compounds without a 6‐methoxy group preferentially inhibited JNK3. The flavone glycoside, luteolin‐7‐O‐glycoside, was identified as a potent inhibitor with the greatest selectivity toward JNK3. In contrast, the flavanol compounds displayed similar inhibitory activities toward both kinases.
Histone Tails: Ideal Motifs for Probing Epigenetics through Chemical Biology Approaches
Authors: Voigt Philipp , Reinberg Danny
Published: November 2010

Post‐translational modifications (PTMs) on histone proteins have emerged as a central theme in the regulation of gene expression and other chromatin‐associated processes. The discovery that certain protein domains can recognize acetylated and methylated lysine residues of histones has spurred efforts to uncover and characterize histone PTM‐binding proteins. In this task, chromatin biology has strongly benefited from synthetic approaches stemming from chemical biology. Peptide‐based techniques have been instrumental in identifying histone mark‐binding proteins and analyzing their binding specificities. To explore how histone PTMs carry out their function in the context of chromatin, reconstituted systems based on recombinant histones carrying defined modifications are increasingly being used. They constitute promising tools to analyze mechanistic aspects of histone PTMs, including their role in transcription and their transmission in replication. In this review, we present strategies that have been used successfully to investigate the role of histone modifications, concepts that have emerged from their application, and their potential to contribute to current developments in the field.