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Abstract: Many correlations of mean hourly direct luminous efficacy for all sky, clear sky and intermediate sky conditions have been compared with experimental data measured in Arcavacata di Rende (Italy), Geneva (Switzerland), Vaulx-en-Velin (France), Bratislava (Slovakia) and Osaka (Japan). The comparisons show that, for all sky conditions, the correlations developed for one locality predict the luminous efficacy in the other localities with mean errors between −13% and 20% and root mean square errors between 15% and 35%; for clear sky conditions, the correlations developed for one locality predict the luminous efficacy in the other localities with mean errors between −7% and 14% and root mean square errors between 7% and 19%; for intermediate sky conditions, the correlations developed for one locality predict the luminous efficacy in the other localities with mean errors between −17% and 26% and root mean square errors between 20% and 41%. If the correlations with local coefficients are applied in each locality, the errors become considerably shorter. The paper gives indications on the values of the measured mean luminous efficacies and on the best models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A high energy electron positron collider is proposed to complement the large hadron collider, LHC, which has started taking data at CERN, Geneva, Switzerland. Based on superconducting acceleration technology the International Linear Collider ILC is offering a mature proposal. It will deliver high luminosity electron positron collisions at 500 GeV upgradable to 1 TeV. Experimentation at such a collider presents many unique challenges, if the huge physics potential should be harvested efficiently. In this paper after a brief review of the state of the accelerator proposal the state of the preparation of the experimental program is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study presents the upstream–downstream complexity of the Rhone, which earlier was a braided river. The fluvial patterns of the Rhône ca. 1860–70 are discussed, i.e. at the end of the Little Ice Age, which was also the beginning of the period of river dredging for improving navigation in the channel (1840–1930) and before the development of a chain of hydroelectric dams (1892–1986) on the river. Flowing across Switzerland and France to the Camargue delta on the Mediterranean, the Rhône drains the western part of the Alps in Europe. Befitting a large river flowing from the mountains, the Rhône was braided along most of its course, due to large quantities of coarse sediments formerly contributed by tributaries from the Alps, Jura Mountains, and Massif Central. The paper begins with a summary of palaeo-environmental studies on the Rhône, which show that the river experienced several events of fluvial metamorphosis during the Holocene. The reaches, which were braided during the late 19th century, alternated between meandering and braided patterns during this period due to the high sensitivity of the channel pattern to external variables such as changing water and sediment discharges. A discussion on the methods used to describe different aspects of the braided pattern of the Rhône from 1860 to 1870, using large-scale maps follows. Discrete reaches on the river are identified using slope, downstream variations of discharge, and stream power. These can be attributed to three factors: the tributaries (large supplies of bed load are brought by the Arve, the Ain, the Drôme, the Ardèche and the Durance rivers), Quaternary tectonics, and the along-channel distance from tributary confluences. Finally, the study assesses the pre-modern conditions of the Rhône for restoring selected reaches on the modern river. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim: To assess the properties of the Cigarette Dependence Scale (CDS-12) in various samples of daily smokers and to provide reference scores in a general population sample. Methods: Surveys in 4 samples of daily cigarette smokers: psychiatric out-patients in Geneva, Switzerland (n =226), clients of smoking cessation clinics in France (n =370), visitors of a French-language smoking cessation website (n =13,697) and a representative sample of the general population of Geneva (n =292). Results: In all 4 samples, Cronbach''s alpha coefficients were >0.87 and factor analyses indicated that CDS-12 was unidimensional. CDS-12 was slightly skewed towards higher values, and it was associated with expired carbon monoxide, but this association was not strong (9% of variance explained, p <0.001). CDS-12 scores were highest in clients of smoking cessation clinics (mean=47.7, SD=10.2), followed by psychiatric patients (mean=44.4, SD=8.4), visitors of smoking cessation websites (mean=43.3, SD=11.6) and the general population sample (mean=36.9, SD=12.3). Except for tolerance, each element in the DSM-IV and ICD-10 definitions of dependence is reflected by at least one item in CDS-12, even though the match with these definitions is sometimes indirect. Conclusions: This paper presents reference scores and validity and reliability tests for CDS-12 in a diversity of samples of daily smokers. This information should be useful to clinicians and researchers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]