What are Households Willing to Pay for Better Tap Water Quality ? A Cross-Country Valuation Study

Using a unique cross-section sample from 10 OECD countries, we estimate willingness to pay for better quality of tap water. On the pooled sample, households are only willing to pay 7.5% of the median annual water bill to improve the quality of tap water. The highest relative willingness to pay for better tap water quality was found in the countries with the highest percentage of respondents being unsatisfied with tap water quality because of health concerns. The median willingness to pay in Mexico, Korea and Italy was estimated at 10.1%, 6.4% and 8.8% of the median water bill. The marginal willingness to pay increased with income, education, environmental concern, trust in information from government, and specific concerns with water quality.Contingent valuation, tobit model, water quality, willingness to pay.

Estimating methane emission and oxidation from two temporary covers on landfilled MBT treated waste

International audienceSurface gaseous emissions and upper layer waste gas composition were measured on two French MBT plants with aerobic pre-treatment process. The goals were to characterize the gaseous emissions, and to assess the efficiency of the upper layer to oxidize the methane flux coming from the residual organic fraction. The first plant was operated without recovery of organic fraction and with concentration of the fine fraction in a cell. The methane fluxes were high and the oxidized methane fraction was moderate (40%) for selected point measurements. On the contrary, the second plant organic fraction was recovered. The residual methane emissions were low with a high fraction of oxidized methane (up to 80%). These results were obtained with favourable humidity and temperature condition

Measurement of persistent organic pollutants in landfill leachates

International audienceLeachates from two landfills which receive the stabilized waste (site A) and sorting refuses (site B) from mechanical biological treatment plants (MBT) have been sampled. Classical parameters, as well as organic persistent pollutants (POPs) have been measured and compared between the two sites, and to data from litterature (classical parameters and POPs) and to limit values for drinking waters, when applicable, for POPs. Though the study was limited to 3 samples, the concentrations in organic micropollutants varied, depending on the compounds and on the treatment process

Energy Model for the Design of Ultra-Low Power Nodes for Wireless Sensor Networks

AbstractThis article describes the modeling of a microsensor node for wireless sensor network applications. Considering the heterogeneous aspect of a sensor node, the developed model allows comparing different node configurations in order to make the best choice of components according to the specifications of the application. Therefore, our model allows identifying the need to design specific element or to use Components Of the Shelf

Combined Ensemble Docking and Machine Learning in Identification of Therapeutic Agents with Potential Inhibitory Effect on Human CES1

The human carboxylesterase 1 (CES1), responsible for the biotransformation of many diverse therapeutic agents, may contribute to the occurrence of adverse drug reactions and therapeutic failure through drug interactions. The present study is designed to address the issue of potential drug interactions resulting from the inhibition of CES1. Based on an ensemble of 10 crystal structures complexed with different ligands and a set of 294 known CES1 ligands, we used docking (Autodock Vina) and machine learning methodologies (LDA, QDA and multilayer perceptron), considering the different energy terms from the scoring function to assess the best combination to enable the identification of CES1 inhibitors. The protocol was then applied on a library of 1114 FDA-approved drugs and eight drugs were selected for in vitro CES1 inhibition. An inhibition effect was observed for diltiazem (IC50 = 13.9 µM). Three others drugs (benztropine, iloprost and treprostinil), exhibited a weak CES1 inhibitory effects with IC50 values of 298.2 µM, 366.8 µM and 391.6 µM respectively. In conclusion, the binding site of CES1 is relatively flexible and can adapt its conformation to different types of ligands. Combining ensemble docking and machine learning approaches improves the prediction of CES1 inhibitors compared to a docking study using only one crystal structure

Final Report of the ModSysC2020 Working Group - Data, Models and Theories for Complex Systems: new challenges and opportunities

Final Report of the ModSysC2020 Working Group at University Montpellier 2At University Montpellier 2, the modeling and simulation of complex systems has been identified as a major scientific challenge and one of the priority axes in interdisciplinary research, with major potential impact on training, economy and society. Many research groups and laboratories in Montpellier are already working in that direction, but typically in isolation within their own scientific discipline. Several local actions have been initiated in order to structure the scientific community with interdisciplinary projects, but with little coordination among the actions. The goal of the ModSysC2020 (modeling and simulation of complex systems in 2020) working group was to analyze the local situation (forces and weaknesses, current projects), identify the critical research directions and propose concrete actions in terms of research projects, equipment facilities, human resources and training to be encouraged. To guide this perspective, we decomposed the scientific challenge into four main themes, for which there is strong background in Montpellier: (1) modeling and simulation of complex systems; (2) algorithms and computing; (3) scientific data management; (4) production, storage and archiving of data from the observation of the natural and biological media. In this report, for each theme, we introduce the context and motivations, analyze the situation in Montpellier, identify research directions and propose specific actions in terms of interdisciplinary research projects and training. We also provide an analysis of the socio-economical aspects of modeling and simulation through use cases in various domains such as life science and healthcare, environmental science and energy. Finally, we discuss the importance of revisiting students training in fundamental domains such as modeling, computer programming and database which are typically taught too late, in specialized masters

Software Quality Objectives for Source Code

International audienceThe MathWorks - Renault SA - PSA Peugeot Citroën - Delphi Diesel System - Valeo group wrote together a code quality standard from scratch. This document describes how the code standard places the proof of absence of run-time errors at the centre of its software quality model. It details how the following elements of the quality model co-exist together with the supplier code life cycle: MISRA-C coding standard, the absence of run-time errors and some code complexity metrics. Additionally, this document describes how the Automotive manufacturers and the suppliers have to agree on and achieve different Software Quality Objectives according to the code life cycle stage and the safety aspects of the application.Finally, the document illustrates that standard with the PolySpace product and details how the product can help both the automotive manufacturer and the supplier working with this standard

Detection, localization, and quantification of corrosion damage using Lamb Waves for the structural health monitoring of aluminum aeronautics structures

Corrosion is a major concern for the aeronautic industry and providing structures with the intrinsic ability to monitor autonomously their health state is a major actual academic and industrial challenge. In this paper, detection, localization, and quantification of a damage representative of a corrosion damage using Lamb waves emitted and received by piezoelectric elements for the purpose of structural health monitoring of aeronautics aluminum structures is addressed. Semi-spherical holes of different sizes representing a calibrated corrosion pit are manufactured on a 2024 aluminum plate with four piezoelectric sensors bonded on it. Lamb waves are then recorded with one element used as an actuator and the other ones being used as sensors. A dedicated recording system provided by Cedrat Technologies is used to acquire Lamb waves data. It is demonstrated on this representative example that by using actual algorithms from the SHM literature, it is possible to detect, localize, and quantify this damage representative of an actual corrosion damage. These preliminary results are very encouraging before monitoring actual corrosion and fatigue damages which constitutes the main objective of the COQTEL project.ANR COQTE