Rapidity of change in population age structures: A local approach based on multiway factor analysis

In the light of complex adaptive system thinking, population age structures in Europe have increasingly reflected the interplay between 'fast' and 'slow' socioeconomic dynamics driven by natural population growth and migration. Assuming the importance of demographic dynamics shaping regional growth in recent times, a diachronic analysis of local-scale population age structures was developed for 156 districts of Greece between 1971 and 2011. By using appropriate indicators, the analysis was aimed at demonstrating how 'fast' and 'slow' transitions contribute to socioeconomic change in both urban and rural areas. Acomprehensive analysis of change in population age structures between 1971 and 2011 allows identification of latent spatial structures as a result of population re-distribution from urban cores to broader rural regions. Following residential mobility, the empirical results of this study indicate (i) a late phase of urbanization (1971-1981) with population densification and settlement compactness, (i) a rapid suburbanization (1981-1991) consolidating distinctive demographic structures in urban and rural areas, (ii) a mild counter-urbanization (1991-2001) with moderate aging of suburban populations and (iii) a latent re-urbanization (2001-2011) reducing the suburban-urban divide in population age structures. Residential mobility contributed to a more balanced age structure during suburbanization and an increased demographic divide in the subsequent urban waves. A refined analysis of long-term population dynamics in metropolitan regions reflects spatial outcomes and latent aspects of demographic transitions shedding light on the debate over the future development of urban and rural societies in advanced economies

Phase Transitions in Finite Nuclei and the Integer Nucleon Number Problem

The study of spherical-deformed ground--state phase transitions in finite nuclei as a function of N and Z is hindered by the discrete values of the nucleon number. A resolution of the integer nucleon number problem, and evidence relating to phase transitions in finite nuclei, are discussed from the experimental point of view and interpreted within the framework of the interacting boson model.Comment: 8 pages Latex + 8 figs (postscript). In Phys Rev Lett, June 199

The influence of different prefermentative maceration processes and tartaric stabilization treatments on the color, cation content and other physico-chemical parameters of 'Băbească neagră' rosé wines

This study enhances knowledge in the physicochemical and color parameters of rosé wines produced by the prefermentative maceration of native Romanian 'Băbească neagră' (Vitis vinifera L.) grape varieties, both before and after tartaric stabilization treatments by the contact procedure in an MK70 ultra-refrigerator. One variety was prepared without maceration as a control sample and the other was subjected to the maceration process for one of the following seven periods of time: 3.5 hours, 7 hours, 10.5 hours, 14 hours, 17.5 hours, 21 hours and 24.5 hours. The prefermentative maceration process exerts a significant influence on the amount of volatile acids, on the pH, conductivity and the K+ cation. The phenolic compound content, the chromatic parameters and the cation content of wines are significantly influenced by both prefermentative maceration and tartaric stabilization. The multifactor ANOVA tests prove that there is an interaction for all parameters except for total acidity.

Analysis of Oversulfation in a Chondroitin Sulfate Oligosaccharide Fraction from Bovine Aorta by Nanoelectrospray Ionization Quadrupole Time-of-Flight and Fourier-Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

A combination of negative ion nano-electrospray ionization Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was applied to analysis of oversulfation in glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides of the chondroitin sulfate type from bovine aorta. Taking advantage of the high-resolution and high mass accuracy provided by the FT-ICR instrument, a direct compositional assignment of all species present in the mixture can be obtained. An oligosaccharide fraction containing mainly hexasaccharides exhibited different levels of sulfation, indicated by the presence of species with regular sulfation pattern as well as oversulfated oligosaccharides with one additional sulfate group. Oversulfation can be directly identified from the high-resolution/high mass accuracy FT-ICR mass spectra according to their specific isotopic fine structure. Location of sulfate groups was analyzed by Q-TOF MS and low-energy CID MS/MS. Tetrasulfated hexasaccharides were analyzed by use of collision-induced dissociation at variable collision energy for an unambiguous assignment of the attachment site of the sulfate groups by minimizing unspecific neutral losses. Cleavage of glycosidic bonds gave rise to B- and C-type ions and their respective complementary Y- and Z-type fragment ions

Land degradation and mitigation policies in the mediterranean region. A brief commentary

Land degradation is more evident where conditions of environmental vulnerability already exist because of arid climate and unsustainable forms of land exploitation. Consequently, semi-arid and dry areas have been identified as vulnerable land, requiring attention from both science and policy perspectives. In some regions, such as the Mediterranean region, land degradation is particularly intense, although there are no extreme ecological conditions. In these contexts, a wide range of formal and informal responses is necessary to face particularly complex and spatially differentiated territorial processes. However, the fit of responses has been demonstrated to be different over time and space according to the underlying socioeconomic context and the specific ecological conditions. The present commentary discusses this sort of \u201centropy\u201d in the policy response to land degradation in Southern Europe, outlining the intrinsic complexity of human\u2013nature dynamics at the base of such processes. Reflecting the need of differentiated regional strategies and more specific national measures to combat desertification, three policy frameworks (agro-environmental, economic, social) with an indirect impact on fighting land degradation have been considered, delineating the importance of policy assemblages. Finally, the importance of policy impact assessment methodologies was highlighted, focusing on the possible responses reinforcing a continental strategy against land degradation. By evidencing the role of participatory planning, developmental policies indirectly addressing land degradation reveal to be an important vector of more specific measures abating desertification risk, creating, in turn, a favorable context for direct interventions of mitigation or adaptation to climate change

On the origin of X-shaped radio-sources: new insights from the properties of their host galaxies

A significant fraction of extended radio sources presents a peculiar X-shaped radio morphology: in addition to the classical double lobed structure, radio emission is also observed along a second axis of symmetry in the form of diffuse wings or tails. We re-examine the origin of these extensions relating the radio morphology to the properties of their host galaxies. The orientation of the wings shows a striking connection with the structure of the host galaxy as they are preferentially aligned with its minor axis. Furthermore, wings are only observed in galaxies of high projected ellipticity. Hydrodynamical simulations of the radio-source evolution show that X-shaped radio-sources naturally form in this geometrical situation: as a jet propagates in a non-spherical gas distribution, the cocoon surrounding the radio-jets expands laterally at a high rate producing wings of radio emission, in a way that is reminiscent of the twin-exhaust model for radio-sources.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in A&

3C 57 as an Atypical Radio-Loud Quasar: Implications for the Radio-Loud/Radio-Quiet Dichotomy

Lobe-dominated radio-loud (LD RL) quasars occupy a restricted domain in the 4D Eigenvector 1 (4DE1) parameter space which implies restricted geometry/physics/kinematics for this subclass compared to the radio-quiet (RQ) majority of quasars. We discuss how this restricted domain for the LD RL parent population supports the notion for a RQ-RL dichotomy among Type 1 sources. 3C 57 is an atypical RL quasar that shows both uncertain radio morphology and falls in a region of 4DE1 space where RL quasars are rare. We present new radio flux and optical spectroscopic measures designed to verify its atypical optical/UV spectroscopic behaviour and clarify its radio structure. The former data confirms that 3C 57 falls off the 4DE1 quasar "main sequence" with both extreme optical FeII emission (R_{FeII} ~ 1) and a large CIV 1549 profile blueshift (~ -1500 km/s). These parameter values are typical of extreme Population A sources which are almost always RQ. New radio measures show no evidence for flux change over a 50+ year timescale consistent with compact steep-spectrum (CSS or young LD) over core-dominated morphology. In the 4DE1 context where LD RL are usually low L/L_{Edd} quasars we suggest that 3C 57 is an evolved RL quasar (i.e. large Black Hole mass) undergoing a major accretion event leading to a rejuvenation reflected by strong FeII emission, perhaps indicating significant heavy metal enrichment, high bolometric luminosity for a low redshift source and resultant unusually high Eddington ratio giving rise to the atypical CIV 1549.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS; 10 pages, 6 figures, 4 table