Unemployment effects of climate policy

This paper models the unemployment effects of restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions, embodying two of the most significant types of short-term economic imperfections that generate unemployment: sectoral rigidities in labor mobility and sectoral rigidities in wage adjustments. A labor policy is also analyzed that would reduce the direct negative economic effects of the emissions restrictions.The politics of limiting greenhouse gas emissions are often dominated by relatively short-term considerations. Yet the current economic modeling of emissions limitations does not embody economic features that are likely to be particularly important in the short term, in particular, the politically sensitive unemployment rate. Moreover, only a few of these studies also consider policies that would offset the negative direct economic effects of emissions restrictions. For plausible estimates of the parameters, the model shows that, with the labor market imperfections, if there were no offsetting policies, the reductions in GNP in the U.S. in the first 10 years after emissions restrictions were imposed would be as much as 4%. However, if there were two policies, instead of just one: a counteracting labor market policy, as well as the emissions restrictions, the negative direct economic effects could be completely eliminated.     

Sequence analytical approach to the Upper Kimmeridgian-Lower Tithonian storm-dominated ramp deposits of the Boulonnais (Northern France). A landward time-equivalent to offshore marine source rocks

An interdisciplinary approach based on high-resolution physical stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, organic matter analysis and clay mineralogy has been applied to the mixed siliciclastic/carbonate Kimmeridgian/Tithonian deposits of the Boulonnais (north-western France). These rocks are the age-equivalents of some of the offshore marine source rocks of the North Sea and were deposited in an overall storm-dominated homoclinal ramp setting which may represent one of the most shore-proximal sediments of this age cropping out in north-western Europe. Comparison with data from the Yorkshire, Dorset, Lorraine and Aquitaine areas allows the discrimination of three major transgressive-regressive sediment packages with disconformities of interregional extent: (1) from the Baylei Zone to top Eudoxus Zone; (2) from the Autissiodorensis Zone to base Scitulus Zone; (3) from the upper Scitulus Zone to the Pectinatus Zone. The lower two regionally correlative disconformities correspond to the sequence boundaries at the top of the Eudoxus Zone and the top of the Autissiodorensis Zone, formed by high-frequency relative sea-level variations during the periods of maximum transgression of the platform. The latter disconformity (the P1 nodule bed) reflects a major tectonically induced reorganization of the north-west European intrashelf sedimentary basin, characterized by a shift in both the location of the main depocentre and the sources of sediment production.     

Congenital nephrosis in low-risk pregnancies

Congenital nephrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder requiring neonatal renal transplant for survival. The postnatal diagnosis rests upon the electron microscopic evaluation of the epithelial foot processes and basal membrane of the glomeruli. The prenatal diagnosis can be suspected in the presence of a positive family history with an amniotic fluid (AF) alpha-fetoprotein level greater than 5 standard deviations (SD) above the population mean accompanied by a negative AF acetylcholinesterase, absent haemoglobin F, and an unremarkable fetal sonographic examination. We reviewed our series of seven cases of congenital nephrosis fulfilling the above criteria; four cases had negative family histories, and in two cases the diagnosis of congenital nephrosis was further supported by the presence of elevated AF albumin concentrations. We conclude that (1) the prenatal diagnosis of congenital nephrosis is feasible in a low-risk population, and (2) an elevated AF albumin concentration may represent an additional marker for the diagnosis of congenital nephrosis, even though false-negative results have been reported.