Quantum Approaches to the Minimum Edge Multiway Cut Problem

International audienceWe investigate the minimum edge multiway cut problem, a fundamental task in evaluating the resilience of telecommunication networks. This study benchmarks the problem across three quantum computing paradigms: quantum annealing on a D-Wave quantum processing unit, photonic variational quantum circuits simulated on Quandela s Perceval platform, and IBM s gate-based Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA). We assess the comparative feasibility of these approaches for early-stage quantum optimization, highlighting trade-offs in circuit constraints, encoding overhead, and scalability. Our findings suggest that quantum annealing currently offers the most scalable performance for this class of problems, while photonic and gate-based approaches remain limited by hardware and simulation depth. These results provide actionable insights for designing quantum workflows targeting combinatorial optimization in telecom security and resilience analysis

Patients visits forecasting in emergency departments: Self-adapting LSTM models for evolving data distributions

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Enhancing emission from hBN quantum emitters using topology-optimized silicon nitride photonic couplers

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Joint Maintenance and Routing under Sudden Shocks: Modeling and Sensitivity Analysis

International audienceJoint Maintenance and Routing under Sudden Shocks: Modeling and Sensitivity Analysi

Effect of surface mechanical attrition treatment on gradient microstructure and low cycle fatigue behaviour of a 316H with anisotropic properties

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Integrating indirect additive and conventional manufacturing to produce hybrid metallic components

International audienceHybrid additive manufacturing (AM) integrates distinct fabrication routes to reduce production costs and time whilepreserving design freedom. This work introduces a novel hybridization strategy that combines an indirect sinter-basedAM process, namely material extrusion (MEX), with conventional manufacturing (CM) to produce integrated metalliccomponents in 17-4PH stainless steel. The approach exploits the shrinkage of the MEX part during sintering to promotebonding with the conventionally manufactured counterpart. The bonding mechanism between MEX-fabricated hollowcylinders and conventionally manufactured rods of the same alloy was investigated. Hollow MEX cylinders were debindedand dried prior to inserting CM rods into their cavities, followed by sintering to induce shrinkage-driven consolidation atthe interface. The hybrid parts were characterized using dimensional measurements, mechanical testing and microstructuralobservations. Hybridization increased the overall length and modified the external diameter near the upper regionof the MEX zone. Mechanical tests revealed two distinct behaviors, with a maximum apparent adhesion strength of39.8 ± 1.5 MPa before decohesion. Depending on the local surface roughness, the interface exhibited both open and closedregions. Furthermore, hybridization reduced the inter-filament gaps in the vicinity of the MEX contours and decreased thesize of sintering pores at the interface

Corrigendum to “Structural, tribological and antibacterial properties of (α+β) based Ti-alloys for biomedical applications”

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General new geometrical modelling for composite materials: application for knitted composites

International audienceThis work introduces a novel geometrical and analytical modeling framework for predicting the stiffness properties of knitted composites, a class of materials known for their complex architectures and versatile mechanical behavior. The proposed approach integrates multi-scale modeling techniques with finite element homogenization to derive an accurate stiffness matrix that accounts for yarn geometry, stitch configuration, and material properties. A user-friendly "click-and-drop" interface was developed to streamline the design and construction of knitted composite geometries, incorporating automated validation checks to ensure structural accuracy. Analytical formulations were combined with discretization techniques to evaluate layerby-layer contributions and compute macroscopic stiffness with high precision. The model was validated against experimental benchmarks from Huang, Gommers, and Ramakrishna for plain knitted, weft-knitted, and glass-fiberreinforced composites, yielding prediction errors consistently below 5 % for longitudinal, transverse, and shear moduli. These results confirm the robustness of the proposed framework and its ability to replicate real-world mechanical behavior. The methodology offers a significant improvement over traditional modeling approaches by providing greater accuracy, adaptability to various composite configurations, and reduced computational complexity. This research contributes a generalized, scalable, and practical tool for engineers and researchers, enabling efficient analysis and optimization of knitted composites for applications in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and wearable technologies. Future developments may extend the model to account for nonlinear, viscoelastic, and failure behaviors, further enhancing its utility for advanced material design.</div

Recovery of lithium, nickel and cobalt from mixed lithium-ion batteries in ammonia media

International audienceThis study investigates the recovery of valuable metals from a mixture of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) in an ammoniacal medium. A factorial design of experiments was applied to assess the effects of NH 3 , (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , and Na 2 SO 3 concentrations on the leaching behavior of Ni, Mn, Co, and Li. Ammonia enhanced metal dissolution through complexation, (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 stabilized the pH via buffering, and Na 2 SO 3 acted as a reducing agent improving the dissolution of Ni, Co, and Li. Optimal conditions (6 mol L -1 NH 3 , 3 mol L -1 (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , 1 mol L -1 Na 2 SO 3 , 60 • C, S/L = 50 g L -1 ) yielded recoveries of 68.1% Ni, 25.9% Mn, 79.4% Co, 55.6% Li, and 99.7% Cu. An empirical model accurately predicted these dissolution yields. Subsequent solvent extraction enabled selective recovery of Ni, Mn, and Cu using Acorga® M5640, and Li using Cyanex® 936P diluted in kerosene. The proposed flowsheet demonstrates the efficiency and selectivity of ammoniacal leaching as a sustainable alternative to conventional acid-based recycling of lithium-ion batteries

Legitimacy of life cycle assessment for sustainable communities

International audienceLife Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been developed within companies with high environmental impacts, and is widely used in industrial contexts. More recently, LCA has gained importance in sustainable communities. Thus, in this paper we aim to answer the question: how legitimate is the LCA method for sustainable communities, regarding their values, practices and goal? For this purpose, we conducted an experiment rooted in a sustainable community. We observed the work of a focus group composed of seven residents of a sustainable community, who conducted an LCA with the support of an LCA expert (the researcher conducting the study). Each focus group session was recorded and analysed using a qualitative method (thematic coding). Focusing on moral and cognitive legitimacy, our study highlighted three main themes: the tracking of material flows within a community, the notion of complexity, and the dissemination of results. We identified certain tensions between LCA practices and the residents’ beliefs. Nonetheless, the output of LCA could still be valuable for residents, especially in terms of communicating their alternative way of life. It is also worth noting that the barriers to LCA adoption are similar in both industrial contexts and sustainable communities. We conclude on the need to better understand the role of LCA as a strategy for sustainable communities to upscale their way of life, while also acknowledging the persistent (and necessary) tensions in terms of values and organization