Assay on statistical basis of NORECOIN method

Les données établies au cours des précédents travaux et étudiées sta tistiquement pour chacun des deux échantillons examinés, ont été globa lement traitées après une étude mathématique du système de notation NORECOIN. Il a été montré que les notes observées dans la pratique sont plus élevées que les moyennes théoriques calculées. Des tables à l’usage des collectivités et des restaurateurs peuvent être réalisées.Data established in previous works and studied from statistical point of view for each of two samples examined, were treated in totality after mathematical study of NORECOIN notation system. It was demonstrated than notes observed practically were higher than theoretical averages calculated. Tables can be realized for use of collectivities and restaurants

Statistical study of NORECOIN notation in social collective restauration

Les 27 notes NORECOIN quadrimestrielles de 3 groupes de restau rants ont été examinées statistiquement en relation avec les pourcentages de plats cuisinés non conformes et de plats autres non satisfaisants. La corrélation existante a permis d’établir un modèle qui explique 99,2 % des variations de la note NORECOIN. Une étude théorique globale de ce problème est maintenant possible.The 27 quadrimestrial NORECOIN notes from 3 groups of restaurants were examined statistically in relation with the percentages of no conform cooked dishes and not satisfactory other dishes. The correlation observed permitted to build a model which explained 99.2% of variations of NORE COIN note. A global théorie study of this problem is possible now

Evaluation of the total photoabsorption cross sections for actinides from photofission data and model calculations

We have calculated the fission probabilities for 237-Np, 233,235,238-U, 232-Th, and nat-Pb following the absorption of photons with energies from 68 MeV to 3.77 GeV using the RELDIS Monte-Carlo code. This code implements the cascade-evaporation-fission model of intermediate-energy photonuclear reactions. It includes multiparticle production in photoreactions on intranuclear nucleons, pre-equilibrium emission, and the statistical decay of excited residual nuclei via competition of evaporation, fission, and multifragmentation processes. The calculations show that in the GeV energy region the fission process is not solely responsible for the entire total photoabsorption cross section, even for the actinides: ~55-70% for 232-Th, \~70-80% for 238-U, and ~80-95% for 233-U, 235-U, and 237-Np. This is because certain residual nuclei that are created by deep photospallation at GeV photon energies have relatively low fission probabilities. Using the recent experimental data on photofission cross sections for 237-Np and 233,235,238-U from the Saskatchewan and Jefferson Laboratories and our calculated fission probabilities, we infer the total photoabsorption cross sections for these four nuclei. The resulting cross sections per nucleon agree in shape and in magnitude with each other. However, disagreement in magnitude with total-photoabsorption cross-section data from previous measurements for nuclei from C to Pb calls into question the concept of a ``Universal Curve'' for the photoabsorption cross section per nucleon for all nuclei.Comment: 39 pages including 11 figure

The activation of the atypical PKC zeta in light-induced retinal degeneration and its involvement in L-DNase II control.

Light-induced retinal degeneration is characterized by photoreceptor cell death. Many studies showed that photoreceptor demise is caspase-independent. In our laboratory we showed that leucocyte elastase inhibitor/LEI-derived DNase II (LEI/L-DNase II), a caspase-independent apoptotic pathway, is responsible for photoreceptor death. In this work, we investigated the activation of a pro-survival kinase, the protein kinase C (PKC) zeta. We show that light exposure induced PKC zeta activation. PKC zeta interacts with LEI/L-DNase II and controls its DNase activity by impairing its nuclear translocation. These results highlight the role of PKC zeta in retinal physiology and show that this kinase can control caspase-independent pathways

Particle emission following Coulomb excitation in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions

We study nuclear reactions induced by virtual photons associated with Lorentz-boosted Coulomb fields of ultrarelativistic heavy ions. Evaporation, fission and multifragmentation mechanisms are included in a new RELDIS code, which describes the deexcitation of residual nuclei formed after single and double photon absorption in peripheral heavy-ion collisions. Partial cross sections for different dissociation channels, including the multiple neutron emission ones, are calculated and compared with data when available. Rapidity and transverse momentum distributions of nucleons, nuclear fragments and pions, produced electromagnetically, are also calculated. These results provide important information for designing large-rapidity detectors and zero-degree calorimeters at RHIC and LHC. The electromagnetic dissociation of nuclei imposes some constrains on the investigation of exotic particle production in gamma-gamma fusion reactions.Comment: 26 LaTeX pages including 8 figures, uses epsf.st

Mutual heavy ion dissociation in peripheral collisions at ultrarelativistic energies

We study mutual dissociation of heavy nuclei in peripheral collisions at ultrarelativistic energies. Earlier this process was proposed for beam luminosity monitoring via simultaneous registration of forward and backward neutrons in zero degree calorimeters at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Electromagnetic dissociation of heavy ions is considered in the framework of the Weizsacker-Williams method and simulated by the RELDIS code. Photoneutron cross sections measured in different experiments and calculated by the GNASH code are used as input for the calculations of dissociation cross sections. The difference in results obtained with different inputs provides a realistic estimation for the systematic uncertainty of the luminosity monitoring method. Contribution to simultaneous neutron emission due to grazing nuclear interactions is calculated within the abrasion model. Good description of CERN SPS experimental data on Au and Pb dissociation gives confidence in predictive power of the model for AuAu and PbPb collisions at RHIC and LHC.Comment: 46 pages with 7 tables and 13 figures, numerical integration accuracy improved, next-to-leading-order corrections include

A prognostic index predicting survival in transformed Waldenström macroglobulinemia

Histological transformation into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a rare complication in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) usually associated with a poor prognosis. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a prognostic index for survival in transformed WM patients. Through this multicenter, international collaborative effort, we developed a scoring system based on data from 133 patients with transformed WM who were evaluated between 1995 and 2016 (training cohort). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to propose a prognostic index with 2-year survival after transformation as an end-point. For external validation, a data set of 67 patients was used to evaluate the performance of the model (validation cohort). By multivariate analysis, three adverse covariates were identified as independent predictors of 2-year survival after transformation: elevated serum LDH (2 points), platelet count < 100 x 109/L (1 point) and any previous treatment for WM (1 point). Three risk groups were defined: low-risk (0-1 point, 24% of patients), intermediate-risk (2-3 points, 59%, hazard ratio (HR) = 3.4) and high-risk (4 points, 17%, HR = 7.5). Two-year survival rates were 81%, 47%, and 21%, respectively (P < 0.0001). This model appeared to be a better discriminant than the International Prognostic Index (IPI) and the revised IPI (R-IPI). We validated this model in an independent cohort. This easy-to-compute scoring index is a robust tool that may allow identification of groups of transformed WM patients with different outcomes and could be used for improving the development of risk-adapted treatment strategies

Experimental demonstration of extended depth-of-field f/1.2 visible High Definition camera with jointly optimized phase mask and real-time digital processing

Increasing the depth of field (DOF) of compact visible high resolution cameras while maintaining high imaging performance in the DOF range is crucial for such applications as night vision goggles or industrial inspection. In this paper, we present the end-to-end design and experimental validation of an extended depth-of-field visible High Definition camera with a very small f-number, combining a six-ring pyramidal phase mask in the aperture stop of the lens with a digital deconvolution. The phase mask and the deconvolution algorithm are jointly optimized during the design step so as to maximize the quality of the deconvolved image over the DOF range. The deconvolution processing is implemented in real-time on a Field-Programmable Gate Array and we show that it requires very low power consumption. By mean of MTF measurements and imaging experiments we experimentally characterize the performance of both cameras with and without phase mask and thereby demonstrate a significant increase in depth of field of a factor 2.5, as it was expected in the design step

High frequency of central nervous system involvement in transformed Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia

Histologicaltransformation (HT) to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rare event in Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) and is associated with a poor prognosis.1-4 It confers an inferior outcome compared with WM patients without HT.2,3 Most transformed WM patients present with elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and extranodal disease.1 Among extranodal sites, the central nervous system (CNS) is one of the most frequently involved sites identified at diagnosis of transformed WM (ranging from 13% to 18%).1,3 However, the prognostic value of CNS involvement is unknown, and the rate of CNS involvement at relapse has not been previously reported in this setting.This work was supported by Cancer Research UK [C355/A26819], FC AECC, and AIRC under the “Accelerator Award Program” [EDITOR] to M.A. and R.G.-S