Inverse determination of glass viscosity and heat transfer coefficient by industrial testing

In the numerical optimization of a new robotized glass blowing method, convection coefficient and glass viscosity are considered as parameters most influential in the forming process. Consequently, two tests in the industrial framework have been developed. In the first, the temperature is measured by a pyrometer on a glass ingot moved in rotation by the robot. In the second one, the robot holds the glass ingot vertically and the lengthening of the glass is recorded by video camera. In both cases, numerical modelling coupled with the inverse method completes the identification procedure. Finally, the integration of the identified properties in the modelling of the elongation of the glass considerably improves the representation of the real glass flow

Managed aquifer recharge in weathered crystalline basement aquifers in India: Monitoring of the effect of tank infiltration on water quality over several monsoon events

International audienceManaged aquifer recharge (MAR) structures like percolation tanks are considered by the Indian national and regional governments as major option for tackling declining groundwater levels due to overexploitation for irrigation purposes (Boisson et al., 2014). Their main purpose is to restore groundwater availability under strong climatic and anthropogenic pressure. Furthermore, MAR-induced dilution with fresh surface water is generally expected to improve groundwater quality with respect to both anthropogenic and geogenic contaminants (total mineralisation, nitrates, chlorides, sulphates and fluoride contents). The impact of a percolation tank on groundwater quality was investigated in a context that is typical for hydro-climatic and geological settings in southern and eastern India: fractured crystalline basement aquifers overlain by a weathering zone under semi-arid climate. Water level data and geochemical indicators (stable isotopes and major ions) were monitored for both groundwater and surface water, over several successive monsoon events. In case of high to very high water levels, the groundwater quality is globally improved. However, in a few cases, the quality of the groundwater can be negatively impacted due to leaching of salts under the tank, particularly during the first rain events of the monsoon. Geogenic fluoride contents in groundwater, induced by water-rock interaction and enhanced by recycling of agricultural return flow under paddy fields, is found to be relatively stable over the year. This finding points out that the underlying processes, mainly dissolution of F-bearing phases like fluorapatites combined with Ca/Na cation exchange and calcite precipitation , both limiting the possibility of F-removal via fluorite precipitation (Pettenati et al., 2013, 2014), are not impacted by the hydrological conditions. This work highlights the complexity of the recharge processes in crystalline aquifers, enhanced by the variability of hydrological conditions. It also provides insights into the possible risk for groundwater quality deterioration in cases of light and short monsoons periods

Angioedema: a rare and sometimes delayed side effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

The effects of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors result from the inhibition of the ACE (kininase II) to ultimately influence both the renin-angiotensin system and the degradation of the bradykinin (BK) metabolism. ACE inhibitors block the degradation of BK and substance P by ACE. In addition, an active metabolite of BK (Des-Arg9-BK) is catalysed by kininase I and its degradation is controlled in part by the conversion enzyme. These molecules have been associated with increased plasma extravasation associated with ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors are the leading cause of drug-induced Angioedema (AE). Symptoms of AE mainly occur after the first month of treatment by ACE. However, very late onset cases, sometimes after several years of stable therapy, are also described in the literature. It has been observed that patients previously stable under ACE inhibitor will most likely develop AE soon after the addition of another medication, including the combination of aspirin or non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs with ACE inhibitor which has proved to be the most common cause, accounting for close to 50% of all AE cases related to ACE inhibitors. This side effect of ACE inhibitors, sometimes very late and rare, deserves to be recalled

Coronary chronic total occlusion intervention: utility or futility.

peer reviewedINTRODUCTION: Despite an incidence of about 18-52% of the patients undergoing coronary angiography, chronic total occlusions (CTO) are rarely revascularised by percutaneous angioplasty (PCI). Nevertheless, current evidence suggests that successful CTO angioplasty improves symptoms, quality of life and long-term survival. During the last decade, the improvement of specific tools and techniques for these complex procedures, and the increasing experience of operators, have led to the achievement of success and complication rates almost equivalent to non-CTO angioplasty. Areas covered: This review focuses on the clinical benefits of CTO revascularization and on appropriate patient selection. Expert commentary: Current evidence suggests that successful CTO-PCI improves symptoms, quality of life and long-term survival. During the last years, the improvement of specific techniques for these complex procedures and the increasing experience of operators, have led to the achievement of success and complication rates almost equivalent to non-CTO lesion angioplasty

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe Hsp104 Disaggregase Is Unable to Propagate the [PSI+] Prion

The molecular chaperone Hsp104 is a crucial factor in the acquisition of thermotolerance in yeast. Under stress conditions, the disaggregase activity of Hsp104 facilitates the reactivation of misfolded proteins. Hsp104 is also involved in the propagation of fungal prions. For instance, the well-characterized [PSI+] prion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae does not propagate in Δhsp104 cells or in cells overexpressing Hsp104. In this study, we characterized the functional homolog of Hsp104 from Schizosaccharomyces pombe (Sp_Hsp104). As its S. cerevisiae counterpart, Sp_hsp104+ is heat-inducible and required for thermotolerance in S. pombe. Sp_Hsp104 displays low disaggregase activity and cannot propagate the [PSI+] prion in S. cerevisiae. When overexpressed in S. cerevisiae, Sp_Hsp104 confers thermotolerance to Δhsp104 cells and reactivates heat-aggregated proteins. However, overexpression of Sp_Hsp104 does not propagate nor eliminate [PSI+]. Strikingly, [PSI+] was cured by overexpression of a chimeric chaperone bearing the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the S. cerevisiae Hsp104 protein. Our study demonstrates that the ability to untangle aggregated proteins is conserved between the S. pombe and S. cerevisiae Hsp104 homologs, and points to a role of the CTD in the propagation of the S. cerevisiae [PSI+] prion

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Contribution à une meilleure compréhension des phénomènes d'impacts pour des basses vitesses balistiques sur matériaux homogènes et hétérogènes

Mon mémoire d’habilitation à diriger des recherches retrace l’ensemble de mes activités d’enseignement, de recherche et mes responsabilités depuis mon arrivée à l’UPHF en tant que Maître de conférences en 2003. Du point de vue pédagogique, j’ai toujours eu à cœur d’avoir une activité tournée vers la mise en pratique de notions théoriques, sous forme d’exercices et de manipulations. J’ai donc pu mettre en application cette méthode pour l’ensemble de mes cours, travaux dirigés et travaux pratiques dispensés au sein du département Génie Industriel et Maintenance de l’IUT de Valenciennes ainsi que lors de vacations faites à l’ENSIAME et au département QLIO de l’IUT. En parallèle, j’ai encadré des projets techniques d’étudiants de niveaux DUT, Licence et Master en mettant chaque fois en évidence les liens existants entre la théorie vue en cours et la réalisation argumentée techniquement et scientifiquement, clé de voute d’une gestion robuste d’un projet. De la même manière, la partie scientifique de mon activité a toujours été de lier le côté théorique à la voie plus expérimentale. Cette approche se retrouve dans l’ensemble des travaux auxquels j’ai participé, que ce soit pendant ma thèse et mes débuts de carrière universitaire que pour le travail mis en place autour du développement d’une nouvelle thématique, orientée vers une meilleure compréhension des phénomènes d’impacts pour les basses vitesses balistiques. Ces travaux, qui représentent la majorité de mon activité de recherche, ont été initiés suite à un constat fait par la police scientifique, sur un manque de moyens d’identification des paramètres balistiques d’une trajectoire de tir lors d’une enquête criminelle. Ils ont permis, en premier lieu, la caractérisation du comportement de matériaux homogènes et hétérogènes pour ces niveaux de sollicitation, ainsi que le développement de nouvelles méthodes d’évaluation de la résistance des structures aux impacts, basées soit sur des essais expérimentaux, soit sur des modélisations numériques, soit sur la combinaison des deux. Les perspectives de recherche autour de cette thématique sont très intéressantes au vu des nouvelles voies de recherche qu’elle a ouvertes suite à des collaborations fructueuses. Pour finir, je présente un nouvel axe de recherche ouvert depuis quelques années sur la modélisation de l’articulation temporo-mandibulaire, ayant comme objectif d’aider les cliniciens à mieux comprendre les causes des traumatismes observés sur cette articulation et estimer leurs conséquences sur l’ensemble du corps

Utilisation de l'approche protéomique pour l'identification et la caractérisation de cibles de thiorédoxines chez Arabidopsis thaliana (Application à l'étude d'un stress photo-oxydatif)

LE KREMLIN-B.- PARIS 11-BU Méd (940432101) / SudocPARIS-BIUP (751062107) / SudocSudocFranceF

Why to treat a total chronic coronary occlusion?

Despite an incidence of about 15% of the patients undergoing coronary angiography, total chronic occlusions (CTO) are rarely revascularized by percutaneous angioplasty (PCI). Nevertheless, current evidence suggest that successful CTO-PCI improve symptoms, quality of live and long-term survival. During the last years, improvement of specific techniques for these complexes procedures and increasing experience of operators allow actually to obtain success and complications rates almost equivalent to non-CTO lesions angioplasty. This review focus on the clinical benefits of CTO revascularization and on appropriate patient selection

Semi-distributed lumped model of a karst system under active management

In this paper inverse modeling is used to characterize the regime of a karst aquifer subjected to extensive pumping in a conduit located upstream of its main outlet. The systemic approach uses a transfer model that is based on computing the convolution integral of up to several signals, e.g., efficient rainfall, pumping, to simulate flow rates and groundwater levels in both the karst conduit and the carbonate matrix at the aquifer outlet and in several parts of the catchment area. The model is a semi-distributed lumped model which simulates the hydrological response of a heterogeneous karst aquifer made up of different hydrologic compartments, and is applied to the Lez karst system, France. Groundwater is abstracted near the system’s major outlet at a higher rate than the low-water spring discharge, thereby mobilizing stored groundwater during low-water periods (‘active management’)