Bauschinger effect in thin metallic films by fem simulations

Unpassivated free-standing gold and aluminum thin films (thickness ~ 200-400 nm, mean grain size dm,Au≈ 70-80nm, dm,Al≈ 120-200nm), subjected to tensile tests show Bauschinger effect (BE) during unloading [1, 2]. The focus of this work is to investigate the effect of microstructural heterogeneity such as grain sizes on the BE and the macroscopic deformation behavior in thin metallic films. The finite element code LAGAMINE is used to model the response of films involving sets of grains with different strengths. The numerical results are compared with experimental results from tensile tests on aluminum thin films from the work of Rajagopalan, et al. [2]

Adaptive time stepping approach for Phase-Field modeling of phase separation and precipitates coarsening in additive manufacturing alloys

In the present work, the capacity of phase field method to highlight microstructural changes during the spinodal decomposition of a given binary alloy basing on the Cahn-Hilliard equation is presented. Then, growth and coarsening of precipitates are studied using the KKS (Kim-Kim-Suzuki) model, which includes Cahn-Hilliard and Allen-Cahn equations. The implementation of time stepping algorithms to resolve Phase-Field equations is illustrated. Within Fourier space, using semi-implicit spectral method, it has been demonstrated that it allows faster computing than schemes based on finite difference method. First, spinodal decomposition of a given binary alloy under isothermal loading is implemented and three time stepping approaches are applied: constant time stepping, non- iterative and an iterative method. While the non-iterative method is faster than the constant time stepping scheme, the iterative one, although relatively more CPU consuming, can guarantee the convergence of the computing. These methods are combined in an innovative approach tested on 1D, 2D and 3D grids. The effectiveness of the adopted adaptive time-stepping algorithm allows resolving equations in reasonable CPU time. It predicts different physical phenomena, such as phase separation and growth and coarsening of precipitates induced by important interfacial energies

PlantRNA, a database for tRNAs of photosynthetic eukaryotes.

International audiencePlantRNA database (http://plantrna.ibmp.cnrs.fr/) compiles transfer RNA (tRNA) gene sequences retrieved from fully annotated plant nuclear, plastidial and mitochondrial genomes. The set of annotated tRNA gene sequences has been manually curated for maximum quality and confidence. The novelty of this database resides in the inclusion of biological information relevant to the function of all the tRNAs entered in the library. This includes 5'- and 3'-flanking sequences, A and B box sequences, region of transcription initiation and poly(T) transcription termination stretches, tRNA intron sequences, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and enzymes responsible for tRNA maturation and modification. Finally, data on mitochondrial import of nuclear-encoded tRNAs as well as the bibliome for the respective tRNAs and tRNA-binding proteins are also included. The current annotation concerns complete genomes from 11 organisms: five flowering plants (Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Populus trichocarpa, Medicago truncatula and Brachypodium distachyon), a moss (Physcomitrella patens), two green algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Ostreococcus tauri), one glaucophyte (Cyanophora paradoxa), one brown alga (Ectocarpus siliculosus) and a pennate diatom (Phaeodactylum tricornutum). The database will be regularly updated and implemented with new plant genome annotations so as to provide extensive information on tRNA biology to the research community

The CORDEX.be initiative as a foundation for climate services in Belgium

The CORDEX.be project created the foundations for Belgian climate services by producing high-resolution Belgian climate information that (a) incorporates the expertise of the different Belgian climate modeling groups and that (b) is consistent with the outcomes of the international CORDEX ("COordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment") project. The key practical tasks for the project were the coordination of activities among different Belgian climate groups, fostering the links to specific international initiatives and the creation of a stakeholder dialogue. Scientifically, the CORDEX.be project contributed to the EURO-CORDEX project, created a small ensemble of High-Resolution (H-Res) future projections over Belgium at convection-permitting resolutions and coupled these to seven Local Impact Models. Several impact studies have been carried out. The project also addressed some aspects of climate change uncertainties. The interactions and feedback from the stakeholder dialogue led to different practical applications at the Belgian national level

Circumbinary Gas Accretion onto a Central Binary: Infrared Molecular Hydrogen Emission from GG Tau A

We present high spatial resolution maps of ro-vibrational molecular hydrogen emission from the environment of the GG Tau A binary component in the GG Tau quadruple system. The H2 v= 1-0 S(1) emission is spatially resolved and encompasses the inner binary, with emission detected at locations that should be dynamically cleared on several hundred-year timescales. Extensions of H2 gas emission are seen to ~100 AU distances from the central stars. The v = 2-1 S(1) emission at 2.24 microns is also detected at ~30 AU from the central stars, with a line ratio of 0.05 +/- 0.01 with respect to the v = 1-0 S(1) emission. Assuming gas in LTE, this ratio corresponds to an emission environment at ~1700 K. We estimate that this temperature is too high for quiescent gas heated by X-ray or UV emission from the central stars. Surprisingly, we find that the brightest region of H2 emission arises from a spatial location that is exactly coincident with a recently revealed dust "streamer" which seems to be transferring material from the outer circumbinary ring around GG Tau A into the inner region. As a result, we identify a new excitation mechanism for ro-vibrational H2 stimulation in the environment of young stars. The H2 in the GG Tau A system appears to be stimulated by mass accretion infall as material in the circumbinary ring accretes onto the system to replenish the inner circumstellar disks. We postulate that H2 stimulated by accretion infall could be present in other systems, particularly binaries and "transition disk" systems which have dust cleared gaps in their circumstellar environments.Comment: 18 pages, including 4 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Nanomechanical Characterization of the Deformation Response of Orthotropic Ti–6Al–4V

The nanoindentation‐induced mechanical deformation response is applied to identify the orthotropic elastic moduli using the Delafargue and Ulm method as well as to validate the asymmetric orthotropic CPB06 nonlinear plasticity model required in simulations of nonuniform macroscopic mechanical response of the Ti–6Al–4V alloy. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique allows to select the maximum penetration depth for the indentation in the deformed alpha phase and alpha–beta interphase, α and α/β, respectively. The apparent macromechanical response can be successfully derived from several residual imprints conducted at micro‐ and/or submicrometric length scale and distributed throughout samples of the investigated bulk alloy, as demonstrated by correlation with finite element simulations based on the orthotropic elastoplastic model. The accurate numerical response obtained validates the material model and the Delafargue and Ulm approach, opening a window for next generation identification methods of macromechanical plasticity models with hybrid experimental–numerical method based on instrumented indentation and the use of SEM technique

Applying FAIR Principles to plant phenotypic data management in GnpIS

GnpIS is a data repository for plant phenomics that stores whole field and greenhouse experimental data including environment measures. It allows long-term access to datasets following the FAIR principles: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable, by using a flexible and original approach. It is based on a generic and ontology driven data model and an innovative software architecture that uncouples data integration, storage, and querying. It takes advantage of international standards including the Crop Ontology, MIAPPE, and the Breeding API. GnpIS allows handling data for a wide range of species and experiment types, including multiannual perennial plants experimental network or annual plant trials with either raw data, i.e., direct measures, or computed traits. It also ensures the integration and the interoperability among phenotyping datasets and with genotyping data. This is achieved through a careful curation and annotation of the key resources conducted in close collaboration with the communities providing data. Our repository follows the Open Science data publication principles by ensuring citability of each dataset. Finally, GnpIS compliance with international standards enables its interoperability with other data repositories hence allowing data links between phenotype and other data types. GnpIS can therefore contribute to emerging international federations of information systems

Identification of stable QTLs for vegetative and reproductive traits in the microvine (Vitis vinifera L.) using the 18 K Infinium chip

UMR AGAP - équipe DAAV - Diversité, adaptation et amélioration de la vigne[b]Background[/b] [br/]The increasing temperature associated with climate change impacts grapevine phenology and development with critical effects on grape yield and composition. Plant breeding has the potential to deliver new cultivars with stable yield and quality under warmer climate conditions, but this requires the identification of stable genetic determinants. This study tested the potentialities of the microvine to boost genetics in grapevine. A mapping population of 129 microvines derived from Picovine x Ugni Blanc flb, was genotyped with the Illumina® 18 K SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) chip. Forty-three vegetative and reproductive traits were phenotyped outdoors over four cropping cycles, and a subset of 22 traits over two cropping cycles in growth rooms with two contrasted temperatures, in order to map stable QTLs (Quantitative Trait Loci). [br/][b]Results[/b] [br/]Ten stable QTLs for berry development and quality or leaf area were identified on the parental maps. A new major QTL explaining up to 44 % of total variance of berry weight was identified on chromosome 7 in Ugni Blanc flb, and co-localized with QTLs for seed number (up to 76 % total variance), major berry acids at green lag phase (up to 35 %), and other yield components (up to 25 %). In addition, a minor QTL for leaf area was found on chromosome 4 of the same parent. In contrast, only minor QTLs for berry acidity and leaf area could be found as moderately stable in Picovine. None of the transporters recently identified as mutated in low acidity apples or Cucurbits were included in the several hundreds of candidate genes underlying the above berry QTLs, which could be reduced to a few dozen candidate genes when a priori pertinent biological functions and organ specific expression were considered. [br/][b]Conclusions[/b] [br/]This study combining the use of microvine and a high throughput genotyping technology was innovative for grapevine genetics. It allowed the identification of 10 stable QTLs, including the first berry acidity QTLs reported so far in a Vitis vinifera intra-specific cross. Robustness of a set of QTLs was assessed with respect to temperature variatio

Patent Office and Innovation Policy: Nobody's perfect

The number of patent applications and "bad" patents issued has been rising rapidly in recent years. Based on this trend, we study the overload problem within the Patent Office and its consequences on the firms' R&D incentives. We assume that the examination process of patent applications is imperfect, and that its quality is poorer under congestion. Depending on policy instruments such as submission fees and the toughness of the non-obviousness requirement, the system may result in a high-R&D equilibrium, in which firms self-select in their patent applications, or in an equilibrium with low R&D, opportunistic patent applications and the issuance of bad patents. Multiple equilibria often co-exist, which deeply undermines the effectiveness of policy instruments. We investigate the robustness of our conclusions as to how the value of patent protection is formalized, taking into consideration the introduction of a penalty system for rejected patent applications, as well as the role of commitment to a given patent protection policy

La Fabrique de l’Info

Les missions d’éducation et de formation sont dans l’ADN de la bibliothèque publique, inscrites dans les textes fondateurs de l’institution. Tour à tour, ces textes affirment son rôle dans la mise à disposition d’une information fiable, pluraliste et l’associent au renforcement de l’autonomie de l’usager dans l’utilisation de cette information et à la construction de son esprit critique. Ces principes sont rappelés dans le projet d’établissement de 2011 de la BmL et ont été réaffirmés lors de..