Measuring poverty without the Mortality Paradox

in Social Choice and Welfare (2013), 40(1), 285-316

Under income-differentiated mortality, poverty measures reflect not only the “true” poverty, but, also, the interferences or noise caused by the survival process at work. Such interferences lead to the ... [more ▼]

Under income-differentiated mortality, poverty measures reflect not only the “true” poverty, but, also, the interferences or noise caused by the survival process at work. Such interferences lead to the Mortality Paradox: the worse the survival conditions of the poor are, the lower the measured poverty is. We examine several solutions to avoid that paradox. We identify conditions under which the extension, by means of a fictitious income, of lifetime income profiles of the prematurely dead neutralizes the noise due to differential mortality. Then, to account not only for the “missing” poor, but, also, for the “hidden” poverty (premature death), we use, as a fictitious income, the welfare-neutral income, making indifferent between life continuation and death. The robustness of poverty measures to the extension technique is illustrated with regional Belgian data. [less ▲]

Rapport intermédiaire d'évaluation des Plans de Cohésion Sociale:Intégration des études de cas approfondies

Report (2013)

Le rapport intermédiaire propose une synthèse des enseignements tirés lors de l'étude approfondie de six plans de cohésion sociale en Région Wallonne. Ce travail a été réalisé dans le cadre d'une ... [more ▼]

Le rapport intermédiaire propose une synthèse des enseignements tirés lors de l'étude approfondie de six plans de cohésion sociale en Région Wallonne. Ce travail a été réalisé dans le cadre d'une évaluation des processus de mise en oeuvre au niveau local des plans de cohésion sociale, l'objectif des études de cas était de comprendre les mécanismes et les éléments-clefs de la mise en oeuvre des PCS au niveau local. Les PCS des communes de Philippeville, Herstal, Condroz, Farciennes, Braine L'Alleud et Tubize ont été étudiés à raison de cinq entretiens approfondis dans chaque commune. [less ▲]

Modelling the β-amylase activity during red sorghum malting when Bacillus subtilis is used to control mould growth

in Journal of Cereal Science (2013), 57

Steeping in dilute alkaline (0.2% NaOH) followed by resteeping in biocontrol (starters of Bacillus subtilis S499) has been used during red sorghum malting. The effect of steeping and germination ... [more ▼]

Steeping in dilute alkaline (0.2% NaOH) followed by resteeping in biocontrol (starters of Bacillus subtilis S499) has been used during red sorghum malting. The effect of steeping and germination conditions has been described using 2 functions: a Weibull 4-parameter model combined with a General Linear Model with Logarithm Link with significant goodness. Steeping conditions (combined use of NaOH and Bacillus subtilis S499) affects the synthesis capacity of grain: when Bacillus subtilis culture used in the steeping step is diluted, lnα increases, suggesting a loss of treatment efficacy. The germination temperature affects the β-amylase synthesis rate during the induction phase: the germination temperature increase is accompanied by a decrease of the β-amylase synthesis rate. During the repression phase of β-amylase synthesis, the effect of malting conditions was found to taper. [less ▲]

Je me souviens...

in Lettre du Neurologue (La) : le Courrier du Spécialiste (2013), XVII(1), 5-6

Les adénomes hypophysaires : du diagnostic au traitement en passant par la contraception, la grossesse et la ménopause

Scientific conference (2013, January)

Le choix entre l’exemption et l’imputation - Cas d’application : la compensation des pertes

in Richelle, Isabelle; Traversa, Edoardo (Eds.) La Fiscalité internationale en Belgique - Tendances récentes (2013)

1. Choix entre taxation territoriale et taxation mondiale 2. La situation en Belgique 3. Incidence de la jurisprudence de la Cour de justice

Transport of dissolved Si from soil to river: a conceptual mechanistic model

in Silicon (2013), 5(1), 115-133

This paper reviews the processes which determine the concentrations of dissolved silicon (DSi) in soil water and proposes a mechanistic model for understanding the transport of Si through a typical podzol ... [more ▼]

This paper reviews the processes which determine the concentrations of dissolved silicon (DSi) in soil water and proposes a mechanistic model for understanding the transport of Si through a typical podzol soil to the river. DSi present in natural waters originates from the dissolution of mineral and amorphous Si sources in the soil. However, the DSi concentration in natural waters will be dependent on both dissolution and deposition/precipitation processes. The net DSi export is controlled by soil composition like (mineralogy and saturated porosity) as well as water composition (pH, concentrations of organic acids, CO2 and electrolytes). These state variables together with production, polymerization and adsorption equations constitute a mechanistic framework determining DSi concentrations. For a typical soil profile in a temperate climate, we discuss how the values of these key controls differ in each soil horizon and how it influences the DSi transport. Additionally, the impact of external forcings such as seasonal climatic variations and land use, is evaluated. This model is a first step to better understand Si transport processes in soils and should be further validated with field measurements. [less ▲]

Modélisation du bilan de masse de surface Antarctique : quelle stratégie et quelle validation ?

Conference (2013, January)

Le bilan de masse de surface (BMS) Antarctique est encore mal connu, bien qu'on sache qu'il contribue de façon significative à l'évolution actuelle du niveau des mers et que sa contribution soit supposée ... [more ▼]

Le bilan de masse de surface (BMS) Antarctique est encore mal connu, bien qu'on sache qu'il contribue de façon significative à l'évolution actuelle du niveau des mers et que sa contribution soit supposée s'intensifier au cours des prochains siècles. Outre son effet direct sur le niveau des mers, le BMS est également un champs de forçage primordial pour les modèles de calotte. Enfin, alors qu'il existe des mesures directes de l'écoulement de la glace vers l'océan et des variations de masse totales (surface+écoulement) de la calotte, il n'existe pas de mesure directe du bilan de masse de surface à l'échelle du continent. La climatologie actuelle du BMS Antarctique est donc estimée principalement à partir de résultats de modélisation. Il est donc crucial de modéliser correctement le bilan de masse de surface Antarctique. Or cette modélisation n'est pas aisée, car il existe peu de modèles de climat, globaux ou régionaux, dont la physique soit appropriée pour modéliser l'atmosphère sur des surfaces englacées. De plus, la résolution a une influence importante sur la représentation du BMS, ce qui oblige à faire des compromis entre résolution et complexité des modèles pour conserver des coûts de calcul raisonnables. Nous présentons la méthodologie que nous avons adoptée pour modéliser le BMS Antarctique sur plusieurs siècles et à haute résolution. Elle s'appuie sur une cascade de modèles adaptés aux conditions polaires à différentes échelles. Nous nous penchons également sur l'épineux problème de l'évaluation du BMS modélisé à partir de données de terrain. En effet, un effort important a été réalisé pour répertorier les données de BMS de qualité en Antarctique, mais ces données restent éparses et échantillonnent mal le continent. L'utilisation d'autres types de données, satellites ou aéroportées par exemple, semble nécessaire et nous ferons un état des lieux des limitations qui restent à dépasser pour y parvenir. [less ▲]

Rates of consumption of atmospheric CO2 through the weathering of loess during the next 100 yr of climate change

in Biogeosciences (2013), 10

Quantifying how C fluxes will change in the future is a complex task for models because of the coupling between climate, hydrology, and biogeochemical reactions. Here we investigate how pedogenesis of the ... [more ▼]

Quantifying how C fluxes will change in the future is a complex task for models because of the coupling between climate, hydrology, and biogeochemical reactions. Here we investigate how pedogenesis of the Peoria loess, which has been weathering for the last 13 kyr, will respond over the next 100 yr of climate change. Using a cascade of numerical models for climate (ARPEGE), vegetation (CARAIB) and weathering (WITCH), we explore the effect of an increase in CO2 of 315 ppmv (1950) to 700 ppmv (2100 projection). The increasing CO2 results in an increase in temperature along the entire transect. In contrast, drainage increases slightly for a focus pedon in the south but decreases strongly in the north. These two variables largely determine the behavior of weathering. In addition, although CO2 production rate increases in the soils in response to global warming, the rate of diffusion back to the atmosphere also increases, maintaining a roughly constant or even decreasing CO2 concentration in the soil gas phase. Our simulations predict that temperature increasing in the next 100 yr causes the weathering rates of the silicates to increase into the future. In contrast, the weathering rate of dolomite – which consumes most of the CO2 – decreases in both end members (south and north) of the transect due to its retrograde solubility. We thus infer slower rates of advance of the dolomite reaction front into the subsurface, and faster rates of advance of the silicate reaction front. However, additional simulations for 9 pedons located along the north–south transect show that the dolomite weathering advance rate will increase in the central part of the Mississippi Valley, owing to a maximum in the response of vertical drainage to the ongoing climate change. The carbonate reaction front can be likened to a terrestrial lysocline because it represents a depth interval over which carbonate dissolution rates increase drastically. However, in contrast to the lower pH and shallower lysocline expected in the oceans with increasing atmospheric CO2, we predict a deeper lysocline in future soils. Furthermore, in the central Mississippi Valley, soil lysocline deepening accelerates but in the south and north the deepening rate slows. This result illustrates the complex behavior of carbonate weathering facing short term global climate change. Predicting the global response of terrestrial weathering to increased atmospheric CO2 and temperature in the future will mostly depend upon our ability to make precise assessments of which areas of the globe increase or decrease in precipitation and soil drainage. [less ▲]

Effects of surfactin on membrane models displaying lipid phase separation.

in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (2013), 1828(2), 801-815

Surfactin, a bacterial amphiphilic lipopeptide is attracting more and more attention in view of its bioactive properties which are in relation with its ability to interact with lipids of biological ... [more ▼]

Surfactin, a bacterial amphiphilic lipopeptide is attracting more and more attention in view of its bioactive properties which are in relation with its ability to interact with lipids of biological membranes. In this work, we investigated the effect of surfactin on membrane structure using model of membranes, vesicles as well as supported bilayers, presenting coexistence of fluid-disordered (DOPC) and gel (DPPC) phases. A range of complementary methods was used including AFM, ellipsometry, dynamic light scattering, fluorescence measurements of Laurdan, DPH, calcein release, and octadecylrhodamine B dequenching. Our findings demonstrated that surfactin concentration is critical for its effect on the membrane. The results suggest that the presence of rigid domains can play an essential role in the first step of surfactin insertion and that surfactin interacts both with the membrane polar heads and the acyl chain region. A mechanism for the surfactin lipid membrane interaction, consisting of three sequential structural and morphological changes, is proposed. At concentrations below the CMC, surfactin inserted at the boundary between gel and fluid lipid domains, inhibited phase separation and stiffened the bilayer without global morphological change of liposomes. At concentrations close to CMC, surfactin solubilized the fluid phospholipid phase and increased order in the remainder of the lipid bilayer. At higher surfactin concentrations, both the fluid and the rigid bilayer structures were dissolved into mixed micelles and other structures presenting a wide size distribution. [less ▲]