Using different spatial scale measurements in a geostatistically based approach for mapping atmospheric nitrogen dioxide concentrations. Application to the French Centre region

International audiencePassive sampling surveys followed by geostatistical data analysis have become a common and efficient way of mapping background concentrations at regional and urban scale. Traffic related pollution is also a matter of concern as regards people exposure but since it acts at shorter spatiotemporal scales, it is usually not integrated in the same maps. However, to provide more comprehensive information to the authorities and the public, the organisms responsible for air quality monitoring are searching for innovative ways of representing background and roadside concentrations together. A methodology based on geostatistics and the examination of the relationships between season averaged nitrogen dioxide concentrations and auxiliary variables is proposed in this study. It is applied to data collected in the French Centre region

Slipping zone location in squeeze flow

the original publication is available at http://www.springerlink.com/content/f1611lmr64836780/International audienceIn squeeze flow rheometry, the main problem is the boundary condition between the squeezed material and the plates. Therefore, the crucial assumption is to know the location and the shape of the sample part where wall slip may or may not occur. This question is investigated from experimental results. For this, squeeze flow experiments are carried out to visualize the flow pattern at the walls. Influence of boundary conditions is particularly studied using different plate surface condition. As a result, with wall slipping conditions, we propose a flow modelling divided into two zones: a circular central zone of the sample sticks on the plates and, beyond that zone, the sample slips at the plates with friction

On the optimisation of a texture analyser in squeeze flow geometry

The original contribution is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263224106000327International audienceThis paper describes how the range of application of a texture analyser, used for mechanical tests of solids and liquids in the food and cosmetics industry, can be extended to reproduce squeeze flow geometry. It describes the necessary optimisation of the device to ensure parallelism and thermal regulation of the plates during tests. The error on the load cell and the instrument compliance are evaluated. The influence of these artefact measurements is investigated in terms of interpretation of rheological properties of materials

Le test de compression simple : mise en oeuvre sur un analyseur de texture et exploitation en présence de fluides viscoplastiques

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Rapic project: toward a new generation of inexpensive heat exchanger-reactors for process intensification

Process intensification (PI) in chemical production is a major concern of chemical manufacturers. This alternative technology involves transposing syntheses into continuous plug flow reactors with process intensification, leading to a multifunctional heat exchanger-reactor. In this context, the RAPIC R&D project aims to develop an innovative low-cost component (in the 10 kg/hour range). This project deals with the design from the local to the global scale and with testing, from elementary mock-ups to pilot scale. The present paper gives a detailed description of this research project and presents the main results on specification and definition of the reaction channel and the first simple mock-ups

Cross-Talk between Oxysterols and Glucocorticoids: Differential Regulation of Secreted Phopholipase A2 and Impact on Oligodendrocyte Death

BACKGROUND: Oxysterols are oxidized forms of cholesterol. They have been shown to be implicated in cholesterol turnover, inflammation and in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. Glial cells are targets of oxysterols: they inhibit astrocyte proliferation after brain injury, and we have previously shown that 25-hydroxycholesterol (25OH) provokes oligodendrocyte apoptosis and stimulates the expression of sPLA2 type IIA (sPLA2-IIA), which has a protective effect. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: As glucocorticoids are well-known for their anti-inflammatory effects, our aim was to understand their direct effects on oxysterol-induced responses in oligodendrocytes (sPLA2-IIA stimulation and apoptosis). We demonstrate that the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) abolishes the stimulation of sPLA2-IIA by 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OH). This inhibition is mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which decreases the expression of the oxysterol receptor Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) and interferes with oxysterol signaling by recruiting a common limiting coactivator PGC1alpha. Consistent with the finding that sPLA2-IIA can partially protect oligodendrocytes against oxysterol-triggered apoptosis, we demonstrate here that the inhibition of sPLA2-IIA by Dex accelerates the apoptotic phenomenon, leading to a shift towards necrosis. We have shown by atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy that 25-OH and Dex alters oligodendrocyte shape and disorganizes the cytoplasm. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results provide a new understanding of the cross-talk between oxysterol and glucocorticoid signaling pathways and their respective roles in apoptosis and oligodendrocyte functions

Engineered inorganic core/shell nanoparticles

International audienceIt has been for a long time recognized that nanoparticles are of great scientific interest as they are effectively a bridge between bulk materials and atomic structures. At first, size effects occurring in single elements have been studied. More recently, progress in chemical and physical synthesis routes permitted the preparation of more complex structures. Such structures take advantages of new adjustable parameters including stoichiometry, chemical ordering, shape and segregation opening new fields with tailored materials for biology, mechanics, optics magnetism, chemistry catalysis, solar cells and microelectronics. Among them, core/shell structures are a particular class of nanoparticles made with an inorganic core and one or several inorganic shell layer(s). In earlier work, the shell was merely used as a protective coating for the core. More recently, it has been shown that it is possible to tune the physical properties in a larger range than that of each material taken separately. The goal of the present review is to discuss the basic properties of the different types of core/shell nanoparticles including a large variety of heterostructures. We restrict ourselves on all inorganic (on inorganic/inorganic) core/shell structures. In the light of recent developments, the applications of inorganic core/shell particles are found in many fields including biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. In addition to a representative overview of the properties, general concepts based on solid state physics are considered for material selection and for identifying criteria linking the core/shell structure and its resulting properties. Chemical and physical routes for the synthesis and specific methods for the study of core/shell nanoparticle are briefly discussed

Masitinib Combined with Standard Gemcitabine Chemotherapy: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies in Human Pancreatic Tumour Cell Lines and Ectopic Mouse Model

International audienceBackground: Tyrosine kinases are attractive targets for pancreatic cancer therapy because several are over-expressed, including PDGFRα/β, FAK, Src and Lyn. A critical role of mast cells in the development of pancreatic cancer has also been reported. Masitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that selectively targets c-Kit, PDGFRα/β, Lyn, and to a lesser extent the FAK pathway, without inhibiting kinases of known toxicities. Masitinib is particularly efficient in controlling the proliferation, differentiation and degranulation of mast cells. This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of masitinib in pancreatic cancer, as a single agent and in combination with gemcitabine.Methodology/Findings: Proof-of-concept studies were performed in vitro on human pancreatic tumour cell lines and then in vivo using a mouse model of human pancreatic cancer. Molecular mechanisms were investigated via gene expression profiling. Masitinib as a single agent had no significant antiproliferative activity while the masitinib/gemcitabine combination showed synergy in vitro on proliferation of gemcitabine-refractory cell lines Mia Paca2 and Panc1, and to a lesser extent in vivo on Mia Paca2 cell tumour growth. Specifically, masitinib at 10 µM strongly sensitised Mia Paca2 cells to gemcitabine (>400-fold reduction in IC50); and moderately sensitised Panc1 cells (10-fold reduction). Transcriptional analysis identified the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway as down-regulated in the cell lines resensitised by the masitinib/gemcitabine combination.Conclusions: These data establish proof-of-concept that masitinib can sensitise gemcitabine-refractory pancreatic cancer cell lines and warrant further in vivo investigation. Indeed, such an effect has been recently observed in a phase 2 clinical study of patients with pancreatic cancer who received a masitinib/gemcitabine combination