Rotation of the earth and polar motion, services

The services providing polar motion and universal time data are described. The precision and accuracy of these data are estimated

The astronomical units

The IAU-1976 System of astronomical constants includes three astronomical units (i.e. for time, mass and length). This paper reports on the status of the astronomical unit of length (ua) and mass (MSun) within the context of the recent IAU Resolutions on reference systems and the use of modern observations in the solar system. We especially look at a possible re-definition of the ua as an astronomical unit of length defined trough a fixed relation to the SI metre by a defining number.Comment: 2 pages, to be published in the Proceedings of the "Journees 2008 Systemes de reference spatio-temporels

Units of relativistic time scales and associated quantities

This note suggests nomenclature for dealing with the units of various astronomical quantities that are used with the relativistic time scales TT, TDB, TCB and TCG. It is suggested to avoid wordings like "TDB units" and "TT units" and avoid contrasting them to "SI units". The quantities intended for use with TCG, TCB, TT or TDB should be called "TCG-compatible", "TCB-compatible", "TT-compatible" or "TDB-compatible", respectively. The names of the units second and meter for numerical values of all these quantities should be used with out any adjectives. This suggestion comes from a special discussion forum created within IAU Commission 52 "Relativity in Fundamental Astronomy"

Hyperbolicity preserving HLL solver for two-layer shallow-water equations applied to dam-break flows

River morphodynamics and sediment transportDebris and hyperconcentrated flow

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV and orthopaedic complications

SummaryHereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV (HSAN-IV) is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of unexplained fever, extensive anhidrosis, total insensitivity to pain, hypotonia, and mental retardation. The most frequent complications of this disease are corneal scarring, multiple fractures, joint deformities, osteomyelitis, and disabling self-mutilations. We reported the case of a 12-year-old boy. The goal was to discuss our decision-making and compare this case with cases described in the literature

Effect of Platelet-activating Factor on in vitro and in vivo Interleukin-6 Production

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF), by comparison with interleukin-1β and polyriboinositic/polyribocytidylic (poly I–C) acid, on IL-6 production by L 929 mouse fibroblasts. At concentrations above 1 μM PAF, the production of IL-6 by mouse fibroblasts was enhanced in a dose dependent fashion. At 5 μM PAF, the peak increase (60.1 ± 19.4 U/ml) was similar to that induced by 50 μg/ml poly I–C (60.0 ± 35.0 U/ml) and higher than the one evoked by 100 U/ml IL-1β (3.8 ± 1.8 U/ml). The increase of 11-6 activity induced by 5 μM PAF was maximal after a 22 h incubation period with L 929 cells. Lyso-PAF (5 μM) also increased IL-6 activity from fibroblasts to a similar extent compared with 5 μM PAF. In addition, the IL-6 activity induced by 5 μM PAF was still observed when the specific PAF antagonist, BN 52021 (10 μM), was added to the incubation medium of L 929 cells. The result suggests that the production of IL-6 by L 929 cells evoked by PAF in vitro is not receptor mediated. The in vivo effect of PAF on IL-6 production was also investigated in the rat. Two hours after intravenous injection of PAF (2 to 4 μg/kg), a dramatic increase of IL-6 activity in rat serum was observed, this effect being dose dependent. The increase of IL-6 induced by 3 μg/kg PAF was not observed when the animals were treated with the PAF antagonist, BN 52021 (1 to 60 mg/kg0. These results demonstrate that PAF modulates IL-6 production and that the in vivo effect is receptor mediated

GPS observables in general relativity

I present a complete set of gauge invariant observables, in the context of general relativity coupled with a minimal amount of realistic matter (four particles). These observables have a straightforward and realistic physical interpretation. In fact, the technology to measure them is realized by the Global Positioning System: they are defined by the physical reference system determined by GPS readings. The components of the metric tensor in this physical reference system are gauge invariant quantities and, remarkably, their evolution equations are local.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, references adde

Structures déployables constituées de mètres rubans : modélisations et essais expérimentaux

International audienceThe study focuses on the numerical modeling and experimental characterization of the static behavior of composite tape springs. Rod models with flexible cross section have been developed and are extended in order to take into account the use of composite materials. Tape springs have been manufactured with carbon/epoxy plies to use it in an experimental setup to compare rod models to experimental results. The pure bending test highlights a complex scenario of folding that involves both bending and twisting mechanisms. The comparison between numerical and experimental results of the transverse bending of tape springs is discussed.Les travaux présentés ici portent sur la modélisation et la caractérisation expérimentale du comporte-ment en statique de rubans composites. Les modèles de poutres à section flexible précédemment développés sont étendus ici à l'utilisation de matériaux composites. Des mètres rubans ont été fabriqués à partir de plis unidirectionnels carbone/époxy pour servir d'éprouvette dans une machine d'essais conçue dans le but de confronter le modèle à des résultats expérimentaux. L'essai réalisé est la flexion transverse du ruban qui présente un scénario complexe de formation de plis faisant intervenir des phénomènes de flexion et de torsion. Une discussion est menée au sujet de la confrontation numérique/expérimental pour l'essai de flexion transverse de rubans composites

TEMPO2, a new pulsar timing package. I: Overview

Contemporary pulsar timing experiments have reached a sensitivity level where systematic errors introduced by existing analysis procedures are limiting the achievable science. We have developed tempo2, a new pulsar timing package that contains propagation and other relevant effects implemented at the 1ns level of precision (a factor of ~100 more precise than previously obtainable). In contrast with earlier timing packages, tempo2 is compliant with the general relativistic framework of the IAU 1991 and 2000 resolutions and hence uses the International Celestial Reference System, Barycentric Coordinate Time and up-to-date precession, nutation and polar motion models. Tempo2 provides a generic and extensible set of tools to aid in the analysis and visualisation of pulsar timing data. We provide an overview of the timing model, its accuracy and differences relative to earlier work. We also present a new scheme for predictive use of the timing model that removes existing processing artifacts by properly modelling the frequency dependence of pulse phase.Comment: Accepted by MNRA