Modeling of the Behavior of Expansive Soils

In the preliminary reconnaissance phase and once the swelling of soil is suspected, it is possible to obtain an estimation of swelling parameters (amplitude and pressure) using numerous rheological models proposed in the literature. These models relate the parameters of swelling to the geotechnical parameters determined from mechanical tests. The analysis of the behavior of clays is conducted by numerical simulation tests of compression and swelling by using the oedometer. This analysis is conducted using the software CASTEM2000 team from CEA-France. This simulation allows-among others-to develop a predictive procedure for estimating the parameters of swelling by the use of constitutive equations of Cam-Clay and Alonso. It should be noted that different simulations are performed; those using oedometer tests by the Cam- Clay model, and Alonso and free swell tests by the Alonso model. The results of this work show that the compressibility has been correctly simulated by both models. The phase of swelling has been simulated by the model of Alonso as the Cam-Clay model can simulate it. It should be noted that the Alonso model underestimates very fluffy swelling soils

Luteinising hormone-releasing hormone analogue reverses the cell adhesion profile of EGFR overexpressing DU-145 human prostate carcinoma subline

Cetrorelix, a luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue, has been shown to limit growth of the human androgen-independent prostate cell line DU-145, although other inhibitory actions may also be affected. Both growth and invasion of DU-145 cells are linked to autocrine epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling. Invasiveness requires not only cells to migrate to conduits, but also reduced adhesiveness between tumour cells to enable separation from the tumour mass. Thus, we investigated whether Cetrorelix alters the DU-145 cell–cell adhesion and if this occurs via altered EGFR signalling. Pharmacologic levels of Cetrorelix limited the invasiveness of a highly invasive DU-145 subline overexpressing full-length EGFR (DU-145 WT). Extended exposure of the cells to Cetrorelix resulted in increased levels of the cell–cell adhesion complex molecules E-cadherin, α- and β-catenin, and p120. Puromycin blocked the increases in E-cadherin and β-catenin levels, suggesting that de novo protein synthesis is required. The Cetrorelix effect appears to occur via transmodulation of EGFR by a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent mechanism, as there were no changes in DU-145 cells expressing EGFR engineered to negate the PKC transattenuation site (DU-145 A654); downregulation of EGFR signalling produced a similar upregulation in adhesion complex proteins, further suggesting a role for autocrine signalling. Cetrorelix increased the cell–cell adhesiveness of DU-145 WT cells to an extent similar to that seen when autocrine EGFR signalling is blocked; as expected, DU-145 A654 cell–cell adhesion also was unaffected by Cetrorelix. The increased adhesiveness is expected as the adhesion complex molecules moved to the cells' periphery. These data offer direct insight into the possible crosstalk pathways between the LHRH and EGFR receptor signalling. The ability of Cetrorelix to downregulate EGFR signalling and subsequently reverse the antiadhesiveness found in metastatic prostate cancer highlights a novel potential target for therapeutic strategies

Creating an Inductive Model of Industrial Development with Optimized Flows for reducing its Environmental Impacts

International audienc

Simple Models of CRTM Process

International audienc

Abnormal distribution of CD45 isoforms expressed by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis

CD45RO+ T cells are referred to as memory or helper-inducer while CD45RA+ T cells are regarded as naive or suppressor-inducer T cells. The former population predominates in the peripheral blood and even more in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, to the expense of the latter population. Within the CD45RB+ compartment, there appears to be more of the fully-differentiated than of the early-differentiated CD4+ T cells. In spite of the fact that these lymphocytes are close to undergoing apoptosis, this programmed cell death is inhibited in the rheumatoid synovium

Hypnotherapy and insomnia: A narrative review of the literature

International audienceINTRODUCTION: Hypnotherapy is increasingly used in general medicine in France to manage health problems such as insomnia. There is some evidence to support the efficacy of hypnosis in treating insomnia but this evidence is based on methodologies of various strengths. This review aims to explore the methodological elements employed in hypnotherapy research to manage insomnia. METHOD: We performed a narrative review of the literature using systematic review methods focusing on treating insomnia with hypnosis. PubMed, Psycinfo, BASE and Cochrane databases and Google scholar were searched. RESULTS: Overall, 25 studies were included consisting of 10 case studies, 11 randomised, controlled trials and 4 pre and post intervention studies. The study designs, intervention, control and comparators were heterogeneous, as were the hypnosis definitions and techniques. Also, detailed descriptions of the hypnosis techniques were lacking. Most studies used non-quantifiable measurement criteria and sample numbers were too small to show significance or be representative. No double-blind study was found. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the current research concerning the efficacy of hypnosis to relieve insomnia is lacking in key methodological elements. The evaluation research process requires robust methodology. We propose applying the IDEAL framework, which recommends research steps to evaluate non-pharmacological and other complex therapies to evaluate the efficacy of hypnosis to manage insomnia

A Simple Fuzzy Logic Approach for Induction Motors Stator Condition Monitoring

Many researches dealt with the problem of induction motors fault detection and diagnosis. The major difficulty is the lack of an accurate model that describes a fault motor. Moreover, experienced engineers are often required to interpret measurement data that are frequently inconclusive. A fuzzy logic approach may help to diagnose induction motor faults. In fact, fuzzy logic is reminiscent of human thinking processes and natural language enabling decisions to be made based on vague information. Therefore, this paper applies fuzzy logic to induction motors fault detection and diagnosis. The motor condition is described using linguistic variables. Fuzzy subsets and the corresponding membership functions describe stator current amplitudes. A knowledge base, comprising rule and data bases, is built to support the fuzzy inference. The induction motor condition is diagnosed using a compositional rule of fuzzy inference

Abnormal distribution of CD45 isoforms expressed by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis

CD45RO+ T cells are referred to as memory or helper-inducer while CD45RA+ T cells are regarded as naive or suppressor-inducer T cells. The former population predominates in the peripheral blood and even more in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, to the expense of the latter population. Within the CD45RB+ compartment, there appears to be more of the fully-differentiated than of the early-differentiated CD4+ T cells. In spite of the fact that these lymphocytes are close to undergoing apoptosis, this programmed cell death is inhibited in the rheumatoid synovium