L'Année Psychologique: History of the founding of a 100-year-old French journal.

The authors present the history of the founding of the French journal L'Année Psychologique. The names of T. Ribot (1839–1916), H. Beaunis (1830–1921), and A. Binet (1857–1911) are closely associated with the journal. Ribot's election to the chair of Experimental and Comparative Psychology at the Collège de France in 1888 marked the official emancipation of psychology in France. Because there was no laboratory associated with the chair, Beaunis, a physiological psychologist from Nancy, proposed to Ribot the creation of the first French laboratory of experimental psychology (1889). Under Beaunis's direction, this laboratory was established at the Sorbonne in Paris but was in fact dependent on another educational institution, L'Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes. In 1893 the laboratory's research was first published in a yearly journal named Travaux du Laboratoire de Psychologie Physiologique (2 volumes: 1893–1894). Binet, who joined the laboratory in 1891, was not satisfied by the form of this publication. With Beaunis's agreement, he then created L'Année Psychologique in 1894 to develop the reputation of the laboratory's research. The authors present the evolution and vicissitudes of the journal from 1895 to 1912, with a glance up to the present. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sources and occurrence of dacthal in the Canadian atmosphere

Dacthal is a herbicide that can undergo long-range atmospheric transport. Due to limited use in Canada, its occurrence in the Canadian environment is likely associated with transboundary flow from the United States where 100 times more dacthal is used. To investigate its atmospheric distribution and possible sources, two sampling strategies were applied. First, polyurethane foam-disk passive air samplers were deployed across the country from the spring to summer of 2004 and 2005. Results showed highest dacthal concentrations at two sites in southern Ontario (max: 50 pg m(-3)) and much lower concentrations in other agricultural regions across Canada. Second, daily high-volume air samples were collected at a field site in north Toronto (Downsview). Sampling at this site was triggered by real-time meteorological forecast models that indicated when air flow to the site originated in the United States. Two such events, one in late June and one in late September 2005, were sampled. In both cases, elevated dacthal concentrations were captured (e.g., up to 319 pg m(-3) in the June event) and they were well correlated with transboundary flow from the United States. Finally, the octanol--air partition coefficient (K(OA)) of dacthal and other current-use pesticides was measured. K(OA) was used to derive a particle--gas partitioning coefficient (K(p)) for dacthal (Log K(p) = -4.1), indicating that this compound should exist mainly in the gas phase.     

Potential risks of metal toxicity in contaminated sediments of Deûle river in northern France

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the potential sediment cumulative damage and toxicity due to metal contamination in a polluted zone of De?le river (in northern France) from nearby two smelters. Metal-enrichment factors and geoaccumulation indices measured with sediment depth revealed that--compared to background levels either in local reference soils or in world rivers sediments/suspended particulate matter--Cd contributed to the highest pollution levels, followed by Zn, Pb and to a much lesser extent Cu and Ni. A comparison of the vertical distribution of AVS (acid volatile sulfides), SEM (simultaneously extracted metals), TMC (total metal concentrations), TOC (total organic carbon) and interstitial water-metal concentrations in the sediment allowed us to highlight the extent of toxicity caused by Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni and Cu and to raise the possibility of their association with certain geochemical phases. To assess the actual environmental impacts of these metals in De?le river, numerical sediment quality guidelines were further used in the present work. Sedimentary Pb, Zn, and Cd contents largely exceeded PEC (probable effect concentration) values reported as consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. As for risks of toxicity from pore waters, metal concentrations reached their maxima at the surficial layers of the sediment (1-3 cm) and IWCTU (Interstitial Water Criteria Toxicity Unit) observed for Pb and to a lesser extent Cd, violated the corresponding water quality data recommended by USEPA.     

A Parametric Genetic Algorithm Approach to Assess Complementary Options of Large Scale Wind-solar Coupling

The transitional path towards a highly renewable power system based on wind and solar energy sources is investigated considering their intermittent and spatially distributed characteristics. Using an extensive weather-driven simulation of hourly power mismatches between generation and load, we explore the interplay between geographical resource complementarity and energy storage strategies. Solar and wind resources are considered at variable spatial scales across Europe and related to the Swiss load curve, which serve as a typical demand side reference. The optimal spatial distribution of renewable units is further assessed through a parameterized optimization method based on a genetic algorithm. It allows us to explore systematically the effective potential of combined integration strategies depending on the sizing of the system, with a focus on how overall performance is affected by the definition of network boundaries. Upper bounds on integration schemes are provided considering both renewable penetration and needed reserve power capacity. The quantitative trade-off between grid extension, storage and optimal wind-solar mix is highlighted. This paper also brings insights on how optimal geographical distribution of renewable units evolves as a function of renewable penetration and grid extent.