Parallel geodesics and minimal stable length of random groups

21 pagesWe show that for any pair of long enough parallel geodesics in a random group G(m, d) with m generators at density d < 1/6, there is a van Kampen diagram having only one layer of faces. Using this result, we give an upper bound, depending only on d, of the number of pairwise parallel geodesics in G(m, d) when d < 1/6. As an application, we show that the minimal stable length of a random group at density d < 1/6 is exactly 1

Fracture Toughness of Periodic Beam Lattices

International audienceThe study tackles the challenge of accurately modeling fracture behavior in beam lattices, which is essential for designing robust architected materials. Our research focuses on evaluating how the lattice's microstructure and material properties affect fracture toughness. We employed finite element simulations based on the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory to investigate crack propagation, using a failure criterion that initiates beam fracture when maximum axial stress exceeds critical strength. Building on observations from these simulations, we developed a multi-phase-field fracture model with Cosserat elasticity to integrate consistent toughness characteristics into a comprehensive framework for lattice design. This model was validated through experimental tests, ensuring a close match between theoretical predictions and physical reality. Our findings reveal that the energy release rate remains relatively stable during crack propagation, underscoring its reliability as a measure of the toughness of periodic lattice structures. We discovered that toughness is predominantly influenced by beam height and material properties such as tensile strength and Young's modulus, while slenderness has minimal impact. Additionally, cracks were observed to preferentially propagate along the lattice's structural directions due to stress localization effects, highlighting the importance of the microstructure in fracture behavior. The implications of this research are significant, suggesting that improved modeling of fracture in lattice structures can enhance material design reliability and optimization. This study bridges the gap between theoretical models and real-world applications, providing valuable insights for the development of advanced materials with tailored fracture properties

For the use of exterior form in daily physics, an introduction without coordinate frame

This is a short introduction of the exterior form formalism focus on its appli-cations in physics and then mostly aimed to physics students. If exterior formsare more than a century old they are unfortunately still seen (and teached) asa high level mathematics object and then little used outside theorical physics.We then focus here on simple examples which occure in daily phiysics. Thereexists already a lot of very good mathematical textbooks and courses on thesubject but the originality of these notes, the physical applications aside, is thatwe keep a completely geometrical approach. As a rule of a game played here wenever use a coordinate frame neither in the definitions nor in the proofs but onlyat the end in order to recover the classical physics equations

Actes de la 9ème édition du colloque Pédagogie et Formation du Groupe INSA: Adaptation des parcours de formation aux nouveaux enjeux des métiers de l'ingénieur : quelles transformations et quels impacts ?

National audienceL’évolution du métier d’ingénieur implique une nécessaire réévaluation des parcours de formation, deleurs contenus, des méthodes et outils d’enseignement-apprentissage. À partir de retours d’expérienceet d’expérimentations dans nos établissements, nous pourrons analyser l’impact de ces transformationssur les acquis des étudiants, le développement de leurs compétences et réfléchir aux moyens de favoriserleur engagement dans ces différents dispositifs.La 9e édition du colloque Pédagogie et Formation du Groupe INSA entend questionner ces problématiqueset permettre d’échanger sur les actions en place, le déploiement de projets à l’échelle du groupe (notamment INSA 2025) et les partenariats développés ces deux dernières années

High-Pressure High-Temperature Nanodiamond-Modified ZnO Nanocomposites as Promising Photocatalysts: Synthesis and Characterization

International audienceZinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures suffer from fast electron–hole recombination, limiting their applicability in photocatalytic environmental remediation, and carbon additives such as detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) are constrained by their high defect density. To address this, ZnO nanocomposites modified with high-pressure, high-temperature nanodiamonds (HPHT NDs) were synthesized to evaluate whether their intrinsically lower defect density—evidenced by a dominant diamond Raman peak at 1330 cm−1 and a low sp2 carbon fraction of 6.6% compared to oxidized DNDs with strong D/G bands (~1350/1580 cm−1) and ~25–35% sp2 carbon—can enhance charge separation and improve photocatalytic activity. Oxidized HPHT NDs bearing carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups enabled covalent attachment to ZnO, and the resulting ND–ZnO composites were characterized by SEM/EDX, ATR-FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and cathodoluminescence (CL). EDX confirmed increasing carbon incorporation from 13.0 to 52.9 at.%, while XPS revealed a 0.5 eV shift in the Zn 2p3/2 peak and an increase in Zn–O–Zn lattice oxygen from 31.3% to 61.6% in ND–ZnO 10. CL showed enhanced near-band-edge emission and reduced Zni-related luminescence (~3.0 eV). ND–ZnO 10 achieved a nearly threefold-higher degradation rate constant (0.0251 min−1) than pristine ZnO (0.0087 min−1) and retained 88% efficiency after five cycles, demonstrating strong potential for durable wastewater treatmen

Electroporation of spheroids using an electric field gradient: a tool to study intensity-dependent permeabilization

International audienceElectroporation (EPN) is the process by which cell membranes become transiently or permanently permeable upon exposure to pulsed electric fields of suitable intensity and duration. Depending on the pulse parameters, permeabilization can be reversible or irreversible, enabling a wide range of biomedical applications. To improve our understanding of EPN effects on tissues and select efficient treatments and parameters, relevant in vitro tumour models are required. Three-dimensional (3D) cell spheroids have emerged as valuable systems, as they more accurately replicate tumour microenvironment and cell-to-cell interactions than conventional 2D cultures. In this work, we present a new microdevice designed for the culture and gradual electroporation of a population of several hundred uniformly sized spheroids, allowing the systematic study of electroporation over a wide range of electric field intensities within a single experiment. Gradual permeabilization of HT-29 colorectal cancer cell spheroids was performed using a standard electrochemotherapy protocol, and electroporation efficiency was assessed by analysing propidium iodide (PI) uptake. Spheroids were treated with electric fields ranging from 800 V cm−1 to 3400 V cm−1. In toto analysis of PI distribution within spheroids by confocal microscopy revealed highly heterogeneous permeabilization patterns throughout the spheroid volume, for all intensities investigated, even at the highest one of 3400 V cm−1. This study introduces a robust 3D in vitro assay for the systematic evaluation of electroporation-based treatments, providing new insights into the influence of electric field heterogeneity, electrical protocol, and estimation of molecular uptake in the spheroid volume

Évaluation de la segmentation des cavités nasales à l'aide d'une métrique topologique Betti-1

National audienc

: Déchets, énergie, CO2 : enquête sur le bouclage des flux résiduels

International audienceLes systèmes urbains contemporains génèrent de manière excessive différentes formes de résidus que l’on cherche à valoriser dans une perspective d’économie circulaire. L’enquête porte sur trois « flux résiduels » – les déchets, l’énergie fatale et le CO2 – en s’attachant à comprendre les multiples niveaux de gouvernance et de cadrage dont ils relèvent et les interdépendances qui les lient. A l’examen des normes, instruments et politiques qui gouvernent ces flux en Europe et en France s’ajoute une analyse territoriale dans quatre métropoles où sont menés des projets et des politiques qui tendent à leur bouclage. Tout en apportant un éclairage sur les évolutions et contradictions de l’action publique environnementale contemporaine, l’ouvrage souligne les limites d’une économie circulaire porteuse de promesses mais aussi de profonds dilemmes