The present paper applies a theoretical two-sector three-factor model to analyze a variety of energy tax reforms with the common feature of at least partly exempting the energy-intensive export sector from the tax. As a result, all scenarios with exemptions reduce energy less than the non-discriminating textbook version of the energy tax. Moreover, in the two scenarios that exemplify typical at...

Jean-André Rochoux (1787-1852) can be considered the author, in 1812, of the first clinical and neuropathological description of cerebral hemorrhage and ischemia, based on concepts that underlie current vascular neurology. His biography reveals how his thinking was shaped by materialist philosophy, which was also the basis of his rigorous scientific reasoning. Due to his intransigent defence of...

Descriptive analysis suggests that a conspicuous white wing patch in dichromatic (black and white) pied and collared flycatchers is under sexual selection. Here, we use an experimental approach to test whether this trait is indeed the target of selection. We caught 100 collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis males soon after their arrival on the breeding site. We reduced (blackened) part of the...

Speech segmentation procedures may differ in speakers of different languages. Earlier work based on French speakers listening to French words suggested that the syllable functions as a segmentation unit in speech processing. However. while French has relatively regular and clearly bounded syllables. other languages. such as English. do not. No trace of syllabifying segmentation was found in Eng...

The 2004 grassroots revolution among French researchers, culminating in the estates general held at the end of the year, highlighted the fact that the research structures in France are in dire need of reform (Curr. Biol. 14, R491–R492, R1031). While the spirit of the 2004 revolt has given way to the more quiet, laborious groundwork of structural change, there is still some disagreement over whi...

This paper explores the use of HPSG for modeling historical phonological change and grammaticalization, focusing on the evolution of the pronunciation of word-final consonants in Modern French. The diachronic evidence is presented in detail, and interpreted as two main transitions, first from Old French to Middle French, then from Middle French to the modern language. The data show how the loss...

In this paper, we propose a study of the final contours and the prosodic structure observed in yes-no questions in French as an L2. Our study consists in a cross-comparison of utterances recorded in French and Spanish in various settings, and produced by 15 Mexican Spanish learners of French (L2), 10 French speakers and 10 Mexican speakers. In the learner s’ productions, the intonational struct...

Predicting habitat quality is a major challenge for animals selecting a breeding patch, because it affects reproductive success. Breeding site selection may be based on previous experience, or on social information from the density and success of competitors with an earlier phenology. Variation in animal breeding phenology is often correlated with variation in habitat quality. Generally, animal...

Leishmaniasis is endemic in the south of France, where autochthonous disease is caused by Leishmania infantum, and affects both humans and dogs. The prevalence of canine leishmaniasis is between 3 and 66% depending on the region and the methods used. Human leishmaniases are also imported into France, mainly from French Guiana and North Africa. The surveillance of autochthonous and imported huma...

Novel Ru(II) complex-based hybrid inorganic-organic materials immobilized via a diamine co-ligand site instead of the conventional diphosphine ligand have been prepared. The complexes were prepared by two different methods: sol-gel and surface modification techniques. The structures of the desired materials were deduced by several available physical measurements like elemental analyses, infrare...