Improvement of the hazard identification and assessment in application of the Seveso II directive (part II)

National audienceThe Council Directive 96/82/EC of 9 December 1996 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances, known as Seveso II Directive, aims at the prevention of major accidents in high risk industries, and the limitation of their consequences for human beings and environment. Although rules are well established to identify maximal hazard potential, there is no recognised method for taking into account, in the assessment of risk level, safety devices and safety management systems implemented by operators. This paper deals with the second stage of a global methodology aiming at better assessing benefits gained from safety devices and safety management systems, through accident scenarios selection. The methodology presented in this paper enables risk assessors and competent authorities to identify Reference Accidents Scenarios (RAS), by taking into account the influence of some safety barriers, in accordance with the Seveso II Directive requirements. This method could help stakeholders involved in the public risk-based decision-making process to evaluate the safety level of high-risk establishments. Since the risk management decisions are based on the risk assessment [12], and since the choices and hypothesis to define the RAS are arbitrary, there is a need to reach a consensus among all the stakeholders to limit the discrepancy in the decision and improve the transparency.La Directive européenne 96/82/EC du 9 Décembre 1982 sur le contrôle des accidents majeurs impliquant des substances dangereuses, connue également sous le nom de Directive Seveso II, a pour objectif la prévention des accidents majeurs dans les sites industriels à hauts risques, et la limitation de leurs conséquences pour les populations et l'environnement. Bien que les règles soient bien établies pour l'identification du risque potentiel, il n'y a pas de méthode reconnue pour la prise en compte, dans l'évaluation du potentiel maximal de danger, des dispositifs de sécurité et des systèmes de gestion de la sécurité mis en oeuvre par les exploitants. Cet article traite de la seconde étape d'une méthodologie générale, qui vise à mieux évaluer les améliorations apportées par les dispositifs de sécurité et des systèmes de gestion de la sécurité, à travers la sélection des scénarios d'accidents. La méthode présentée dans cet article permet aux évaluateurs du risque ainsi qu'aux autorités compétentes d'identifier les Scénarios Accidentels de Référence, qui prennent en compte l'influence de certaines barrières de sécurité, en accord avec les exigences de la Directive Seveso II. Cette méthode pourrait aider les parties prenantes impliquées dans le processus décisionnel de gestion publique basé sur les risques, afin d'évaluer le niveau de sécurité des établissements à hauts risques. Comme les décisions de gestion des risques sont basées sur l'évaluation des risques, et comme les choix et les hypothèses pour définir les Scénarios Accidentels de Référence sont arbitraires, il est nécessaire d'obtenir un consensus parmi les parties prenantes, afin de limiter les divergences dans les décisions et améliorer la transparence

Pathway results from the chicken data set using GOTM, Pathway Studio and Ingenuity softwares

Background: As presented in the introduction paper, three sets of differentially regulated genes were found after the analysis of the chicken infection data set from EADGENE. Different methods were used to interpret these results.[br/] Results: GOTM, Pathway Studio and Ingenuity softwares were used to investigate the three lists of genes. The three softwares allowed the analysis of the data and highlighted different networks. However, only one set of genes, showing a differential expression between primary and secondary response gave significant biological interpretation.[br/] Conclusion: Combining these databases that were developed independently on different annotation sources supplies a useful tool for a global biological interpretation of microarray data, even if they may contain some imperfections (e.g. gene not or not well annotated)

Introduction

Vue aérienne avec, au premier plan, le quartier de Villeneuve, au second, la ville de Fréjus et, en arrière plan, le massif de l’Estérel (Cl. Ville de Fréjus / M. Heller©). 1. Localisation et origine du projet Le quartier de Villeneuve se trouve à l’est de la ville de Fréjus et s’étend au-delà de la butte Saint‑Antoine jusqu’au quartier de Villepey. Il est aujourd’hui distant d’environ 1,5 km du bord de mer et se compose essentiellement d’espaces résidentiels bordés au sud par une zone comme..

Vagus nerve stimulation: State of the art of stimulation and recording strategies to address autonomic function neuromodulation

International audienceObjective. Neural signals along the vagus nerve (VN) drive many somatic and autonomic functions. The clinical interest of VN stimulation (VNS) is thus potentially huge and has already been demonstrated in epilepsy. However, side effects are often elicited, in addition to the targeted neuromodulation. Approach. This review examines the state of the art of VNS applied to two emerging modulations of autonomic function: heart failure and obesity, especially morbid obesity. Main results. We report that VNS may benefit from improved stimulation delivery using very advanced technologies. However, most of the results from fundamental animal studies still need to be demonstrated in humans

An illustrative case of the POEMS syndrome

peer reviewedLe POEMS syndrome est une entité rare et invalidante caractérisée par une polyneuropathie, une organomégalie, une endocrinopathie, une gammapathie monoclonale et des atteintes dermatologiques. Le diagnostic de cette infection est souvent tardif et représente un véritable défi au vu de l’hétérogénéité des formes cliniques. Les chaînes légères sécrétées par les plasmocytes clonaux entraînent une surproduction de VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) responsable de la plupart des manifestations cliniques du POEMS. La démarche diagnostique repose, en pratique, sur des critères cliniques dont les principaux sont la polyneuropathie et la gammapathie monoclonale. Le bilan d’extension reprend le dosage du VEGF, l’électrophorèse et l’mmunofixation des protéines sériques. Un bilan radiologique permet d’objectiver des lésions osseuses ostéosclérotiques ou des adénopathies et l’électromyogramme la polyneuropathie. Les patients qui souffrent d’un plasmocytome en l’absence d’une infiltration médullaire de plasmocytes clonaux sont des candidats au traitement par radiothérapie. Les patients avec une atteinte osseuse diffuse ou une localisation médullaire recevront un traitement systémique. La réponse au traitement peut prendre plusieurs mois avant une amélioration clinique et biologique. Un diagnostic précoce et une prise en charge spécifique limitent l’impact clinico-fonctionnel du POEMS.POEMS syndrome is a rare and invalidating entity characterized by polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy and dermatoses. The diagnosis of this condition is often late and challenging due to the heterogeneity of clinical forms. The light chains secreted by the clonal plasmocytes cause overproduction of VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) responsible for the appearance of the clinical manifestations of POEMS. The diagnostic approach is based on different clinical and biological criteria. Patients with a solitary plasmacytoma are candidates for radiotherapy treatment. Patients with diffuse bone involvement or bone marrow infiltration are best treated by systemic drugs. The response to treatment may take several months before clinical and biological improvement. Early diagnosis and dedicated management limit the clinico-functional impact of POEMS

Reinforced Concretes of Tomorrow: Corrosion Behaviour according to Exposure Classes

Reinforced concrete is the most widely used building material but its durability in terms of concrete cover performance and corrosion of steel rebar is still a key point to be studied. To address this topic, within the frame of the national project PERFDUB, two series of eleven reinforced concrete specimens (with metric dimensions) were cast with innovative concrete mixes representative of the French experience, two shapes of rebar and two concrete covers. Then, these specimens were exposed in two natural exposure sites, one in Epernon for carbonation (XC4) and a second one in La Rochelle in the Atlantic Ocean in a tidal zone for chloride ions (XS3m). Their corrosion was carried out using non-destructive testing. In addition, in order to follow the corrosion evolution more accurately in a continuous way, two series of three specimens were casted with embedded sensors and were exposed in two other outdoor sites in Marne-la-Vallée (XC4) and in Eqiom facility (XS3e). The first results of this 20-year project in terms of corrosion of these reinforced concrete specimens obtained with laboratory and field equipment and with monitoring are presented in this paper

Complete exon sequencing of all known Usher syndrome genes greatly improves molecular diagnosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Usher syndrome (USH) combines sensorineural deafness with blindness. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive mode. Early diagnosis is critical for adapted educational and patient management choices, and for genetic counseling. To date, nine causative genes have been identified for the three clinical subtypes (USH1, USH2 and USH3). Current diagnostic strategies make use of a genotyping microarray that is based on the previously reported mutations. The purpose of this study was to design a more accurate molecular diagnosis tool.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We sequenced the 366 coding exons and flanking regions of the nine known USH genes, in 54 USH patients (27 USH1, 21 USH2 and 6 USH3).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Biallelic mutations were detected in 39 patients (72%) and monoallelic mutations in an additional 10 patients (18.5%). In addition to biallelic mutations in one of the USH genes, presumably pathogenic mutations in another USH gene were detected in seven patients (13%), and another patient carried monoallelic mutations in three different USH genes. Notably, none of the USH3 patients carried detectable mutations in the only known USH3 gene, whereas they all carried mutations in USH2 genes. Most importantly, the currently used microarray would have detected only 30 of the 81 different mutations that we found, of which 39 (48%) were novel.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based on these results, complete exon sequencing of the currently known USH genes stands as a definite improvement for molecular diagnosis of this disease, which is of utmost importance in the perspective of gene therapy.</p