Seafloor seismicity, Antarctic ice-sounds, cetacean vocalizations and long-term ambient sound in the Indian Ocean basin

International audienceThis paper presents the results from the Deflo-hydroacoustic experiment in the Southern Indian Ocean using three autonomous underwater hydrophones, complemented by two permanent hydroacoustic stations. The array monitored for 14 months, from November 2006 to December 2007, a 3000 x 3000 km wide area, encompassing large segments of the three Indian spreading ridges that meet at the Indian Triple Junction. A catalogue of 11 105 acoustic events is derived from the recorded data, of which 55 per cent are located from three hydrophones, 38 per cent from 4, 6 per cent from five and less than 1 per cent by six hydrophones. From a comparison with land-based seismic catalogues, the smallest detected earthquakes are m(b) 2.6 in size, the range of recorded magnitudes is about twice that of land-based networks and the number of detected events is 5-16 times larger. Seismicity patterns vary between the three spreading ridges, with activity mainly focused on transform faults along the fast spreading Southeast Indian Ridge and more evenly distributed along spreading segments and transforms on the slow spreading Central and ultra-slow spreading Southwest Indian ridges; the Central Indian Ridge is the most active of the three with an average of 1.9 events/100 km/month. Along the Sunda Trench, acoustic events mostly radiate from the inner wall of the trench and show a 200-km-long seismic gap between 2 degrees S and the Equator. The array also detected more than 3600 cryogenic events, with different seasonal trends observed for events from the Antarctic margin, compared to those from drifting icebergs at lower (up to 50 degrees S) latitudes. Vocalizations of five species and subspecies of large baleen whales were also observed and exhibit clear seasonal variability. On the three autonomous hydrophones, whale vocalizations dominate sound levels in the 20-30 and 100 Hz frequency bands, whereas earthquakes and ice tremor are a dominant source of ambient sound at frequencies < 20 Hz

Influence of shear stress applied during flow stoppage and rest period on the mechanical properties of thixotropic suspensions

We study the solid mechanical properties of several thixotropic suspensions as a function of the shear stress history applied during their flow stoppage and their aging in their solid state. We show that their elastic modulus and yield stress depend strongly on the shear stress applied during their solid-liquid transition (i.e., during flow stoppage) while applying the same stress only before or only after this transition may induce only second-order effects: there is negligible dependence of the mechanical properties on the preshear history and on the shear stress applied at rest. We also found that the suspensions age with a structuration rate that hardly depends on the stress history. We propose a physical sketch based on the freezing of a microstructure whose anisotropy depends on the stress applied during the liquid-solid transition to explain why the mechanical properties depend strongly on this stress. This sketch points out the role of the internal forces in the colloidal suspensions' behavior. We finally discuss briefly the macroscopic consequences of this phenomenon and show the importance of using a controlled-stress rheometer

Macroscopic behavior of bidisperse suspensions of noncolloidal particles in yield stress fluids

We study both experimentally and theoretically the rheological behavior of isotropic bidisperse suspensions of noncolloidal particles in yield stress fluids. We focus on materials in which noncolloidal particles interact with the suspending fluid only through hydrodynamical interactions. We observe that both the elastic modulus and yield stress of bidisperse suspensions are lower than those of monodisperse suspensions of same solid volume fraction. Moreover, we show that the dimensionless yield stress of such suspensions is linked to their dimensionless elastic modulus and to their solid volume fraction through the simple equation of Chateau et al.[J. rheol. 52, 489-506 (2008)]. We also show that the effect of the particle size heterogeneity can be described by means of a packing model developed to estimate random loose packing of assemblies of dry particles. All these observations finally allow us to propose simple closed form estimates for both the elastic modulus and the yield stress of bidisperse suspensions: while the elastic modulus is a function of the reduced volume fraction $\phi/\phi_m$ only, where $\phi_m$ is the estimated random loose packing, the yield stress is a function of both the volume fraction $\phi$ and the reduced volume fraction

On the choice of parameters in the phase field method for simulating crack initiation with experimental validation

International audienceThe phase field method is a versatile simulation framework for studying initiation and propagation of complex crack networks without dependence to the finite element mesh. In this paper, we discuss the influence of parameters in the method and provide experimental validations of crack initiation and propagation in plaster specimens. More specifically, we show by theoretical and experimental analyses that the regularization length should be interpreted as a material parameter, and identified experimentally as it. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons between numerical predictions and experimental data are provided. We show that the phase field method can predict accurately crack initiation and propagation in plaster specimens in compression with respect to experiments, when the material parameters, including the characteristic length are identified by other simple experimental tests

Yield stress and elastic modulus of suspensions of noncolloidal particles in yield stress fluids

We study experimentally the behavior of isotropic suspensions of noncolloidal particles in yield stress fluids. This problem has been poorly studied in the literature, and only on specific materials. In this paper, we manage to develop procedures and materials that allow us to focus on the purely mechanical contribution of the particles to the yield stress fluid behavior, independently of the physicochemical properties of the materials. This allows us to relate the macroscopic properties of these suspensions to the mechanical properties of the yield stress fluid and the particle volume fraction, and to provide results applicable to any noncolloidal particle in any yield stress fluid. We find that the elastic modulus-concentration relationship follows a Krieger-Dougherty law, and we show that the yield stress-concentration relationship is related to the elastic modulus-concentration relationship through a very simple law, in agreement with results from a micromechanical analysis

Ranking Port Cities with High Exposure and Vulnerability to Climate Extremes

DOI:10.1787/011766488208This global screening study makes a first estimate of the exposure of the world's large port cities to coastal flooding due to storm surge and damage due to high winds. This assessment also investigates how climate change is likely to impact each port city's exposure to coastal flooding by the 2070s, alongside subsidence and population growth and urbanisation. The study provides a much more comprehensive analysis than earlier assessments, focusing on the 136 port cities around the world that have more than one million inhabitants in 2005. The analysis demonstrates that a large number of people are already exposed to coastal flooding in large port cities. Across all cities, about 40 million people (0.6% of the global population or roughly 1 in 10 of the total port city population in the cities considered here) are exposed to a 1 in 100 year coastal flood event. For present-day conditions (2005), the top ten cities in terms of exposed population are estimated to be Mumbai, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Miami, Ho Chi Minh City, Kolkata, Greater New York, Osaka-Kobe, Alexandria and New Orleans; almost equally split between developed and developing countries. When assets are considered, the current distribution becomes more heavily weighted towards developed countries, as the wealth of the cities becomes important. The top 10 cities in terms of assets exposed are Miami, Greater New York, New Orleans, Osaka-Kobe, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Nagoya, Tampa-St Petersburg and Virginia Beach. These cities contain 60% of the total exposure, but are from only three (wealthy) countries: USA, Japan and the Netherlands. The total value of assets exposed in 2005 is across all cities considered here is estimated to be US3,000 billion; corresponding to around 5% of global GDP in 2005 (both measured in international USD)... Available at : http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/ranking-port-cities-with-high-exposure-and-vulnerability-to-climate-extremes_01176648820

Macroeconomic drivers of baseline scenarios in dynamic CGE models: review and guidelines proposal

For dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling, long-term baseline construction is key and depends on the applied methods and the sources of projections considered. For dynamic CGE models, baseline assumptions and base data are both important determinants of results. This paper reviews the assumptions made by 24 modeling teams on baseline macroeconomic drivers, understood as factor accumulation and gross domestic product (GDP) growth. We critically review the various methods, identifying state-of-the-art practices and propose simple guidelines, particularly focusing on consistency between data sources and models, which is intended to help dynamic CGE modelers build their own baselines

Seafloor seismicity, Antarctic ice-sounds, cetacean vocalizations and long-term ambient sound in the Indian Ocean basin

This paper presents the results from the Deflo-hydroacoustic experiment in the Southern Indian Ocean using three autonomous underwater hydrophones, complemented by two permanent hydroacoustic stations. The array monitored for 14 months, from November 2006 to December 2007, a 3000 x 3000 km wide area, encompassing large segments of the three Indian spreading ridges that meet at the Indian Triple Junction. A catalogue of 11 105 acoustic events is derived from the recorded data, of which 55 per cent are located from three hydrophones, 38 per cent from 4, 6 per cent from five and less than 1 per cent by six hydrophones. From a comparison with land-based seismic catalogues, the smallest detected earthquakes are m[subscript]b 2.6 in size, the range of recorded magnitudes is about twice that of land-based networks and the number of detected events is 5-16 times larger. Seismicity patterns vary between the three spreading ridges, with activity mainly focused on transform faults along the fast spreading Southeast Indian Ridge and more evenly distributed along spreading segments and transforms on the slow spreading Central and ultra-slow spreading Southwest Indian ridges; the Central Indian Ridge is the most active of the three with an average of 1.9 events/100 km/month. Along the Sunda Trench, acoustic events mostly radiate from the inner wall of the trench and show a 200-km-long seismic gap between 2 °S and the Equator. The array also detected more than 3600 cryogenic events, with different seasonal trends observed for events from the Antarctic margin, compared to those from drifting icebergs at lower (up to 50°S) latitudes. Vocalizations of five species and subspecies of large baleen whales were also observed and exhibit clear seasonal variability. On the three autonomous hydrophones, whale vocalizations dominate sound levels in the 20-30 and 100 Hz frequency bands, whereas earthquakes and ice tremor are a dominant source of ambient sound at frequencies < 20 Hz.Keywords: Mid-ocean ridge processes, Indian Ocean, Hydrogeophysics, Acoustic propertie

Biogenesis of Pro-senescent Microparticles by Endothelial Colony Forming Cells from Premature Neonates is driven by SIRT1-Dependent Epigenetic Regulation of MKK6.

Senescent cells may exert detrimental effect on microenvironment through the secretion of soluble factors and the release of extracellular vesicles, such as microparticles, key actors in ageing and cardiovascular diseases. We previously reported that sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) deficiency drives accelerated senescence and dysfunction of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFC) in PT neonates. Because preterm birth (PT) increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases during neonatal period as well as at adulthood, we hypothesized that SIRT1 deficiency could control the biogenesis of microparticles as part of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of PT-ECFC and investigated the related molecular mechanisms. Compared to control ECFC, PT-ECFC displayed a SASP associated with increased release of endothelial microparticles (EMP), mediating a paracrine induction of senescence in naïve endothelial cells. SIRT1 level inversely correlated with EMP release and drives PT-ECFC vesiculation. Global transcriptomic analysis revealed changes in stress response pathways, specifically the MAPK pathway. We delineate a new epigenetic mechanism by which SIRT1 deficiency regulates MKK6/p38 &lt;sup&gt;MAPK&lt;/sup&gt; /Hsp27 pathway to promote EMP biogenesis in senescent ECFC. These findings deepen our understanding of the role of ECFC senescence in the disruption of endothelial homeostasis and provide potential new targets towards the control of cardiovascular risk in individuals born preterm

HRAS is a therapeutic target in malignant chemo-resistant adenomyoepithelioma of the breast

Abstract Malignant adenomyoepithelioma (AME) of the breast is an exceptionally rare form of breast cancer, with a significant metastatic potential. Chemotherapy has been used in the management of advanced AME patients, however the majority of treatments are not effective. Recent studies report recurrent mutations in the HRAS Q61 hotspot in small series of AMEs, but there are no preclinical or clinical data showing H-Ras protein as a potential therapeutic target in malignant AMEs. We performed targeted sequencing of tumours’ samples from new series of 13 AMEs, including 9 benign and 4 malignant forms. Samples from the breast tumour and the matched axillary metastasis of one malignant HRAS mutated AME were engrafted and two patient-derived xenografts (PDX) were established that reproduced the typical AME morphology. The metastasis-derived PDX was treated in vivo by different chemotherapies and a combination of MEK and BRAF inhibitors (trametinib and dabrafenib). All malignant AMEs presented a recurrent mutation in the HRAS G13R or G12S hotspot. Mutation of PIK3CA were found in both benign and malignant AMEs, while AKT1 mutations were restricted to benign AMEs. Treatment of the PDX by the MEK inhibitor trametinib, resulted in a marked anti-tumor activity, in contrast to the BRAF inhibitor and the different chemotherapies that were ineffective. Overall, these findings further expand on the genetic features of AMEs and suggest that patients carrying advanced HRAS-mutated AMEs could potentially be treated with MEK inhibitors