The local spatial autocorrelation and the kernel method for identifying black zones: A comparative approach

This article aims to determine the location and the length of road sections characterized by a concentration of accidents (black zones). Two methods are compared: one based on a local decomposition of a global autocorrelation index, the other on kernel estimation. After explanation, both methods are applied and compared in terms of operational results, respective advantages and shortcomings, as well as underlying conceptual elements. The operationality of both methods is illustrated by an application to one Belgian road.     

Nanofiltration of NaCl solutions using a SPPO membrane (BQ01) Part 1. Membrane characterization and separation mechanisms

Results from an experimental investigation of BQ01 nanofiltration (NF) are reported in this paper aiming at delineating the role of process parameters on BQ01 performances. The data highlight the specific behavior of BQ01 membranes in response to solute type and to variations in solution concentration. Variations in permeability and separation factors due to the presence of electrolytes are recorded. It is demonstrated that the concentration polarization cannot explain the observed variations. To elucidate the mechanisms related to this particular membrane, another approach based on conformational properties of polymer coating (sulfonated polyphenylene oxide, SPPO) is proposed and discussed in relation with characterization results. The hypothesis about mechanisms that are developed in this part will be confronted to a series of NF experiments under the same operating conditions but under electric field (ENF) in part 2 of this study.     

Spatial Ability and Home-Range Size: Examining the Relationship in Western Men and Women (Homo sapiens).

In mammals, spatial sex differences may have coevolved with sex differences in the size of home ranges. This study first evaluated whether, in keeping with most mammals and traditional human (Homo sapiens) societies, home ranges are larger in male than in female Westerners. Second, it established whether navigation patterns are associated with a broader set of spatial abilities in men than in women. Results showed that current male home ranges surpass female home ranges. Ranging was also positively correlated with achievement in tests of mental rotation, surface development, and location memory among men only, whereas it was associated with embedded figures scores in both sexes. Overall, these findings substantiate the adaptive role of several spatial sex differences in humans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Seasonal vitamin D intake in Quebec preschoolers.

As a number of seasonal factors affect cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D, especially in young children, our objective was to verify if winter and summer vitamin D intakes in Quebec preschoolers reach the adequate intake of 5 microg/day. A three-month retrospective food frequency questionnaire and a 24-hour food recall were used with parents of 98 children (mean age 56 months) in summer and of 72 of these children (mean age 65 months) in winter. To ensure completeness of data, vitamin D content of foods not covered in the Canadian Nutrient File was taken from other sources. According to the food frequency questionnaire, total vitamin D intakes were 9.7 +/- 4.3 microg/day in summer and 11.6 +/- 4.8 microg/day in winter. Only 10% of children in summer and 7% in winter had an intake below 5 microg/day. The 24-hour food recall vitamin D intake estimate was lower (summer 7.0 +/- 3.8 microg/day, winter 7.2 +/- 4.2 microg/day). This difference could be partly due to a discrepancy in the estimation of multivitamin supplement intake. However, according to both estimates, vitamin D intakes appeared generally adequate in this sample of Quebec preschoolers.     

The influence of organic additives on the crystallization and agglomeration of gibbsite

During the crystallization of gibbsite Al(OH)₃, which leads to the synthesis of alumina in the Bayer process, crystals go through a step of agglomeration. In this work, we present a study concerning the influence of different organic compounds, polycarboxylic acids and polyalcohols on the crystallization and agglomeration of gibbsite crystals. It has been determined that they act as crystal habit modifiers and inhibitors of the agglomeration occurring during the formation of alumina crystallites. Simply by following the kinetics of the reaction, it has been observed that polyalcohols are stronger inhibitors than polycarboxylic acids, which can be linked to the structure of gibbsite crystals. The influence of the characteristics of the additive, such as the number of carboxylic groups and the distance between them for polyacids, the stereochemistry and the length of the carbon chain in the case of polyalcohols, is demonstrated to have a significant effect.     

Dissociations entre musique et langage après atteinte cérébrale: Un nouveau cas d'amusie sans aphasie.

Presents the case of a 40-yr-old female, I.R., who sustained bilateral damage to the temporal lobes and to the right frontal lobe as a result of successive brain surgeries. Her performance is compared to that of 4 neurologically intact Ss who were matched in terms of education, sex and age. I.R.'s performance on various tests aiming at assessing her general cognitive functioning is reported with a particular focus on auditory aspects. Results show that I.R.'s speech abilities are essentially intact. The only language impairments are related to a short-term memory deficit, to some abnormal sensitivity to retroactive interference in long-term memory and to articulation. These difficulties do not, however, affect linguistic communication, which is obviously undisturbed. I.R. does not experience and difficulty in the recognition and memorization of familiar sounds such as animal cries, traffic noises and the like. I.R. is severely impaired in most musical abilities: She can no longer discriminate nor identify melodies that were once highly familiar to her; she can no longer discriminate nor memorize novel melodies. Her pattern of musical losses is compatible with a basic and severe perceptual deficit that compromises access to and registration in memory systems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ring-opening polymerization of activated cyclopropanes: polymerization of diethyl 1,1-cyclopropanedicarboxylate by metallic sodium

Summary Diethyl 1,1-cyclopropanedicarboxylate undergoes ring-opening polymerization under anionic conditions. If the cyclopropane is contaminated by diethyl malonate CH₂(COOEt)₂, polymerization can be initiated by metallic sodium. The mechanism of this initiation was found to involve an initial reduction of the malonate by sodium to give the salt (EtOOC)₂CH(^-) Na(⁺) which acts as the real initiator. Poly(diethyl 1,1-cyclopropane dicarboxylate) is soluble in halogenated solvents and was characterized by GPC, IR,¹H- and¹³C-NMR. Molecular weights are low to moderate (typically 10³–10⁴) and are compatible with the low monomer/initiator ratios used in these experiments.Part of this work was presented at the 1993 Spring National ACS Meeting: Penelle J, Clarebout G, Balikdjian I (1993) Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem.) 34(1): 473     

Synthesis, Autoorganization and Reactivity of Amphiphilic Derivatives of 1-Aminoisoindole in Water and Formamide

In this work, we present the synthesis of cationic surfactants based on 1-aminoisoindole. The physico-chemical properties were studied by conductometry, tensiometry, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy in water and in formamide. The reactivity of these novel surfactants has been studied at concentrations below and above critical aggregation concentrations (CAC) and it was found that reactions can proceed in structured media without the addition of other catalysts.