Quantum nature of the critical points of substances

Thermodynamics of chemical elements, based on the two-component electron-nuclear plasma model shows that the critical parameters for the liquid-vapor transition are the quantum values for which the classical limit is absent.Comment: 4 pages, no figure

L'Institut de Recherches sur les Fruits et Agrumes 1942-1984 : de l'IFAC à l'IRFA

Ce rapport fournit quelques éléments pour un bilan et ravive la mémoire par un rappel historique et géographique de la naissance de l'IFAC, de sa croissance, puis de l'ultime phase de dépendance croissante à son intégration dans un organisme de plus grande dimension. Tout au long de ses 40 années d'existence, l'activité de l'IRFA a été répartie en quatre programmes consacré aux agrumes, à l'ananas, aux bananiers et aux plantains et aux autres fruitier

Mathematical Modeling for Studying the Sustainability of Plants Subject to the Stress of Two Distinct Herbivores

Viability of plants, especially endangered species, are usually affected by multiple stressors, including insects, herbivores, environmental factors and other plant species. We present new mathematical models, based on systems of ordinary differential equations, of two distinct herbivore species feeding (two stressors) on the same plant species. The new feature is the explicit functional form modeling the simultaneous feedback interactions (synergistic or additive or antagonistic) between the three species in the ecosystem. The goal is to investigate whether the coexistence of the plant and both herbivore species is possible (a sustainable system) and under which conditions sustainability is feasible. Our theoretical analysis of the novel model without including competitions among the two herbivores reveals that the number of equilibrium states and their local stability depends on the type of interaction between the stressors: synergistic or additive or antagonistic. Our numerical results, based on value of parameters available, suggest that a sustainable system requires significant herbivore inter- or intra-species competition or both types. Additionally, our numerical findings indicate that competition and interaction of additive type promotes coexistence equilibrium states with the highest plant biomass. Furthermore, the system can exhibit periodic behavior and show the potential for multi-stability

Evolution of the Dependence of Residual Lifetimes

We investigate the dependence properties of a vector of residual lifetimes by means of the copula associated with the conditional distribution function. In particular, the evolution of positive dependence properties (like quadrant dependence and total positivity) are analyzed and expressions for the evolution of measures of association are given

Emotion-induced loss aversion and striatal-amygdala coupling in low-anxious individuals

Adapting behavior to changes in the environment is a crucial ability for survival but such adaptation varies widely across individuals. Here, we asked how humans alter their economic decision-making in response to emotional cues, and whether this is related to trait anxiety. Developing an emotional decision-making task for functional magnetic resonance imaging, in which gambling decisions were preceded by emotional and non-emotional primes, we assessed emotional influences on loss aversion, the tendency to overweigh potential monetary losses relative to gains. Our behavioral results revealed that only low-anxious individuals exhibited increased loss aversion under emotional conditions. This emotional modulation of decision-making was accompanied by a corresponding emotion-elicited increase in amygdala-striatal functional connectivity, which correlated with the behavioral effect across participants. Consistent with prior reports of 'neural loss aversion', both amygdala and ventral striatum tracked losses more strongly than gains, and amygdala loss aversion signals were exaggerated by emotion, suggesting a potential role for this structure in integrating value and emotion cues. Increased loss aversion and striatal-amygdala coupling induced by emotional cues may reflect the engagement of adaptive harm-avoidance mechanisms in low-anxious individuals, possibly promoting resilience to psychopathology

Decay resistance against Coriolus versicolor in Sessile oak ( Quercus petraea Liebl.): analysis of the between-tree variability and correlations with extractives, tree growth and other basic wood properties

Abstract : Weight loss due to fungus Coriolus versicolor has been measured on 614 samples according to the NF EN 113 norm. Up to eight samples were cut at breast height (two opposite radii×four radial positions in heartwood) from 82 mature sessile oaks ( Quercus petraea Liebl.) originating from contrasting regions, silvicultural schedules and site qualities in France. The following points are addressed in the paper: (i) contribution to the total variability for weight loss of the effects "tree”, "position in the tree”, as well as their interaction; (ii) percentage of wood samples and trees in each of the five classes of natural durability defined by the norm NF EN 350-2; (iii) test of the effects of region, silvicultural schedule and site quality on weight loss and evaluating their contribution to the total variation; and (iv) correlations at tree level between weight loss and several traits related to tree growth and basic wood properties (density, swelling, grain angle, multiseriate wood rays characteristics, extractives content). The results are discussed with a view to aid the forest manager as well as the log/wood user to take advantage of the high level of between-tree variability observed as natural durability against C. versicolo