Using Premia and Nsp for Constructing a Risk Management Benchmark for Testing Parallel Architecture

International audienceFinancial institutions have massive computations to carry out overnight which are very demanding in terms of the consumed CPU. The challenge is to price many different products on a cluster-like architecture. We have used the Premia software to valuate the financial derivatives. In this work, we explain how Premia can be embedded into Nsp, a scientific software like Matlab, to provide a powerful tool to valuate a whole portfolio. Finally, we have integrated an MPI toolbox into Nsp to enable to use Premia to solve a bunch of pricing problems on a cluster. This unified framework can then be used to test different parallel architectures

Using Premia and Nsp for Constructing a Risk Management Benchmark for Testing Parallel Architecture

Financial institutions have massive computations to carry out overnight which are very demanding in terms of the consumed CPU. The challenge is to price many different products on a cluster-like architecture. We have used the Premia software to valuate the financial derivatives. In this work, we explain how Premia can be embedded into Nsp, a scientific software like Matlab, to provide a powerful tool to valuate a whole portfolio. Finally, we have integrated an MPI toolbox into Nsp to enable to use Premia to solve a bunch of pricing problems on a cluster. This unified framework can then be used to test different parallel architectures.Premia;Mpi;Nsp

Etude calorimétrique de la réactivité du silicate tricalcique. Influence du mode de broyage et de la dimension des particules

International audienceL'étude concertée du CERILH, de l'Ecole des Mines de Saint-Etienne et de Lafarge Coppée a porté sur le silicate tricalcique C3S. Le silicate tricalcique (C3S) est le minéral prépondérant du clinker et peut s'hydrater en système binaire C3S-eau. La phase comportant le C3S, qu'on appelle l'alite, a été choisie pour l'étude et a dû être synthétisée séparément, dans le but (1) d'observer les différences sur la morphologie des grains et leur réactivité physico-chimique (2) de caractériser les différences de réactivité des grains, en surface et en masse, en étudiant leur hydratation et l'acquisition de la résistance mécanique qui en découle (3) de réaliser ce programme en s'affranchissant de l'effet de finesse et de répartition granulométrique. Ces effets font l'objet d'essais complémentaires permettant de mesurer leur importance relative

A polymorphism of EGFR extracellular domain is associated with progression free-survival in metastatic colorectal cancer patients receiving cetuximab-based treatment

International audienceBackground: Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), is currently used in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but predictive factors for therapeutic response are lacking. Mutational status of KRAS and EGFR, and EGFR copy number are potential determinants of cetuximab activity.Methods: We analyzed tumor tissues from 32 EGFR-positive mCRC patients receiving cetuximab/irinotecan combination and evaluable for treatment response. EGFR copy number was quantified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). KRAS exon 1 and EGFR exons coding for extracellular regions were sequenced.Results: Nine patients experienced an objective response (partial response) and 23 were considered as nonresponders (12 with stable disease and 11 with progressive disease). There was no EGFR amplification found, but high polysomy was noted in 2 patients, both of which were cetuximab responders. No EGFR mutations were found but a variant of exon 13 (R521K) was observed in 12 patients, 11 of which achieved objective response or stable disease. Progression-free and overall survivals were significantly better in patients with this EGFR exon 13 variant. KRAS mutations were found in 14 cases. While there was a trend for an increased KRAS mutation frequency in nonresponder patients (12 mutations out of 23, 52%) as compared to responder patients (2 out of 9, 22%), authentic tumor response or long-term disease stabilization was found in KRAS mutated patients.Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests that: an increase in EGFR copy number may be associated with cetuximab response but is a rare event in CRC, KRAS mutations are associated with low response rate but do not preclude any cetuximab-based combination efficacy and EGFR exon 13 variant (R521K) may predict for cetuximab benefit

Breeding for increased nitrogen-use efficiency: a review for wheat (T. aestivum L.)

Nitrogen fertilizer is the most used nutrient source in modern agriculture and represents significant environmental and production costs. In the meantime, the demand for grain increases and production per area has to increase as new cultivated areas are scarce. In this context, breeding for an efficient use of nitrogen became a major objective. In wheat, nitrogen is required to maintain a photosynthetically active canopy ensuring grain yield and to produce grain storage proteins that are generally needed to maintain a high end-use quality. This review presents current knowledge of physiological, metabolic and genetic factors influencing nitrogen uptake and utilization in the context of different nitrogen management systems. This includes the role of root system and its interactions with microorganisms, nitrate assimilation and its relationship with photosynthesis as postanthesis remobilization and nitrogen partitioning. Regarding nitrogen-use efficiency complexity, several physiological avenues for increasing it were discussed and their phenotyping methods were reviewed. Phenotypic and molecular breeding strategies were also reviewed and discussed regarding nitrogen regimes and genetic diversity

Compte rendu de la sortie de la section des Sciences de la Terre dans la région du Mont Mézenc le 15 septembre 2001

Lelong Bernard. Compte rendu de la sortie de la section des Sciences de la Terre dans la région du Mont Mézenc le 15 septembre 2001. In: Bulletin mensuel de la Société linnéenne de Lyon, 71ᵉ année, n°6, juin 2002. pp. 239-240

Initiation aux sciences de la Terre. XIX - Exposé du 8 novembre 2001. Les méthodes chimiques d'identification des minéraux

Lelong Bernard. Initiation aux sciences de la Terre. XIX - Exposé du 8 novembre 2001. Les méthodes chimiques d'identification des minéraux. In: Bulletin mensuel de la Société linnéenne de Lyon, 71ᵉ année, n°7, septembre 2002. p. 267

Compte rendu de la sortie de la section des Sciences de la Terre dans la région du Mont Mézenc le 15 septembre 2001

Lelong Bernard. Compte rendu de la sortie de la section des Sciences de la Terre dans la région du Mont Mézenc le 15 septembre 2001. In: Bulletin mensuel de la Société linnéenne de Lyon, 71ᵉ année, n°6, juin 2002. pp. 239-240