Projective metrics and contraction principles for complex cones

In this article, we consider linearly convex complex cones in complex Banach spaces and we define a new projective metric on these cones. Compared to the hyperbolic gauge of Rugh, it has the advantage of being explicit, and easier to estimate. We prove that this metric also satisfies a contraction principle like Birkhoff's theorem for the Hilbert metric. We are thus able to improve existing results on spectral gaps for complex matrices. Finally, we compare the contraction principles for the hyperbolic gauge and our metric on particular cones, including complexification of Birkhoff cones. It appears that the contraction principles for our metric and the hyperbolic gauge occur simultaneously on these cones. However, we get better contraction rates with our metric.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figure

Plasma ceramide, a real-time predictive marker of pulmonary and hepatic metastases response to stereotactic body radiation therapy combined with irinotecan

AbstractBackground and purposesEarly biomarkers of tumour response are needed to discriminate between responders and non-responders to radiotherapy. We evaluated the ability of ceramide, a bioactive sphingolipid, to predict tumour sensitivity in patients treated by hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) combined with irinotecan chemotherapy.Materials and methodsPlasma levels of total ceramide and of its subspecies were measured before and during treatment in 35 patients with liver and lung oligometastases of colorectal cancer included in a phase II trial. Cer levels were quantified by LC–ESI-MS/MS and compared to tumour volume response evaluated one year later by CT-scan.ResultsPretreatment plasma ceramide levels were not indicative of tumour response. Nevertheless, the levels of total ceramide and of its 4 main subspecies were significantly higher at days 3 and 10 of treatment in objective responders than in non-responders. According to Kaplan–Meier curves, almost complete tumour control was achieved at 1year in patients with increased total ceramide levels whereas 50% of patients with decreased levels experienced an increase in tumour volume.ConclusionsTotal plasma ceramide is a promising biomarker of tumour response to SBRT combined with irinotecan that should enable to segregate patients with high risk of tumour escape

Characterizing, modelling and understanding the climate variability of the deep water formation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea

Observing, modelling and understanding the climate-scale variability of the deep water formation (DWF) in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea remains today very challenging. In this study, we first characterize the interannual variability of this phenomenon by a thorough reanalysis of observations in order to establish reference time series. These quantitative indicators include 31 observed years for the yearly maximum mixed layer depth over the period 1980–2013 and a detailed multi-indicator description of the period 2007–2013. Then a 1980–2013 hindcast simulation is performed with a fully-coupled regional climate system model including the high-resolution representation of the regional atmosphere, ocean, land-surface and rivers. The simulation reproduces quantitatively well the mean behaviour and the large interannual variability of the DWF phenomenon. The model shows convection deeper than 1000 m in 2/3 of the modelled winters, a mean DWF rate equal to 0.35 Sv with maximum values of 1.7 (resp. 1.6) Sv in 2013 (resp. 2005). Using the model results, the winter-integrated buoyancy loss over the Gulf of Lions is identified as the primary driving factor of the DWF interannual variability and explains, alone, around 50 % of its variance. It is itself explained by the occurrence of few stormy days during winter. At daily scale, the Atlantic ridge weather regime is identified as favourable to strong buoyancy losses and therefore DWF, whereas the positive phase of the North Atlantic oscillation is unfavourable. The driving role of the vertical stratification in autumn, a measure of the water column inhibition to mixing, has also been analyzed. Combining both driving factors allows to explain more than 70 % of the interannual variance of the phenomenon and in particular the occurrence of the five strongest convective years of the model (1981, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2013). The model simulates qualitatively well the trends in the deep waters (warming, saltening, increase in the dense water volume, increase in the bottom water density) despite an underestimation of the salinity and density trends. These deep trends come from a heat and salt accumulation during the 1980s and the 1990s in the surface and intermediate layers of the Gulf of Lions before being transferred stepwise towards the deep layers when very convective years occur in 1999 and later. The salinity increase in the near Atlantic Ocean surface layers seems to be the external forcing that finally leads to these deep trends. In the future, our results may allow to better understand the behaviour of the DWF phenomenon in Mediterranean Sea simulations in hindcast, forecast, reanalysis or future climate change scenario modes. The robustness of the obtained results must be however confirmed in multi-model studies

Etudes expérimentales du concept de propulseur de Hall double étage

In Hall thrusters, the same physical phenomenon is used both to generate the plasma and to accelerate ions. Furthermore, only a single operating point is experimentally observed. The double stage Hall thruster (DSHT) design could allow a separate control of ionization (thrust) and ions acceleration (ISP) to make the system more versatile. The work carried out during this PhD aims to experimentally demonstrate the relevance and the feasibility of this concept. Firstly, a new design of DSHT, called ID-HALL, was proposed and a new prototype was built. It combines the concentric cylinder configuration of a single stage Hall thruster with a magnetized inductively coupled RF plasma source (ICP) whose coil is placed inside the inner cylinder. The ICP source was improved in terms of power coupling efficiency by adding ferrite parts and by decreasing the heating RF frequency. The ICP source used in the ID-HALL thruster was then characterized independently of the thruster using argon and xenon and varying pressure. The experimental setup has allowed to measure the spatial variations of the electron density and temperature. Finally, the thruster was mounted in its vacuum chamber and preliminary measures (voltage-current characteristics, RPA measurements) were led. At the same time, simulations using a two-dimensional hybrid model were performed in single and double stage. A versatile operation for voltages lower than 150 V was highlighted. An emphasis will be given to demonstrate that the current density (given by the ion flux probe) and the ions energy (given by the RPA) might be significantly decoupled.Dans un propulseur à courant de Hall, la création des ions et leur accélération sont régis par le même phénomène physique. L'idée du propulseur de Hall double étage (DSHT) est de découpler l'ionisation du gaz (poussée) et l'accélération des ions (ISP), de sorte à rendre le système davantage versatile. Les travaux menés durant cette thèse visent à démontrer, grâce à des essais expérimentaux, la pertinence et la faisabilité d'un tel concept. Dans un premier temps, un prototype de DSHT, baptisé ID-HALL, a été conçu et assemblé. Il est constitué d'une source inductive magnétisée insérée dans un tube en céramique et d'un étage d'accélération identique à une barrière magnétique de propulseur simple étage. La source inductive a été optimisée de sorte à réduire le couplage capacitif et à maximiser l'efficacité du transfert de puissance par ajout de pièces en ferrite et diminution de la fréquence RF d'excitation. Dans un deuxième temps, la source inductive du propulseur a été caractérisée indépendamment du propulseur en argon et xénon pour différentes pressions. Le dispositif expérimental a permis notamment de tracer une cartographie 2D de la densité et de la température. Enfin, le propulseur a été monté dans son caisson et des mesures préliminaires (caractéristiques courant-tension, mesures par sonde RPA) ont été menées. En parallèle, des simulations utilisant un modèle hybride 2D ont été effectuées en mode simple et double étage. Elles mettent en évidence un fonctionnement versatile du moteur pour des tensions inférieures à 150 V. A terme, on visera à démontrer que la densité de courant et l'énergie des ions peuvent être, dans certaines conditions, significativement découplées

Experimental study of the concept of double stage Hall thruster

Dans un propulseur à courant de Hall, la création des ions et leur accélération sont régis par le même phénomène physique. L'idée du propulseur de Hall double étage (DSHT) est de découpler l'ionisation du gaz (poussée) et l'accélération des ions (ISP), de sorte à rendre le système davantage versatile. Les travaux menés durant cette thèse visent à démontrer, grâce à des essais expérimentaux, la pertinence et la faisabilité d'un tel concept. Dans un premier temps, un prototype de DSHT, baptisé ID-HALL, a été conçu et assemblé. Il est constitué d'une source inductive magnétisée insérée dans un tube en céramique et d'un étage d'accélération identique à une barrière magnétique de propulseur simple étage. La source inductive a été optimisée de sorte à réduire le couplage capacitif et à maximiser l'efficacité du transfert de puissance par ajout de pièces en ferrite et diminution de la fréquence RF d'excitation. Dans un deuxième temps, la source inductive du propulseur a été caractérisée indépendamment du propulseur en argon et xénon pour différentes pressions. Le dispositif expérimental a permis notamment de tracer une cartographie 2D de la densité et de la température. Enfin, le propulseur a été monté dans son caisson et des mesures préliminaires (caractéristiques courant-tension, mesures par sonde RPA) ont été menées. En parallèle, des simulations utilisant un modèle hybride 2D ont été effectuées en mode simple et double étage. Elles mettent en évidence un fonctionnement versatile du moteur pour des tensions inférieures à 150 V. A terme, on visera à démontrer que la densité de courant et l'énergie des ions peuvent être, dans certaines conditions, significativement découplées.In Hall thrusters, the same physical phenomenon is used both to generate the plasma and to accelerate ions. Furthermore, only a single operating point is experimentally observed. The double stage Hall thruster (DSHT) design could allow a separate control of ionization (thrust) and ions acceleration (ISP) to make the system more versatile. The work carried out during this PhD aims to experimentally demonstrate the relevance and the feasibility of this concept. Firstly, a new design of DSHT, called ID-HALL, was proposed and a new prototype was built. It combines the concentric cylinder configuration of a single stage Hall thruster with a magnetized inductively coupled RF plasma source (ICP) whose coil is placed inside the inner cylinder. The ICP source was improved in terms of power coupling efficiency by adding ferrite parts and by decreasing the heating RF frequency. The ICP source used in the ID-HALL thruster was then characterized independently of the thruster using argon and xenon and varying pressure. The experimental setup has allowed to measure the spatial variations of the electron density and temperature. Finally, the thruster was mounted in its vacuum chamber and preliminary measures (voltage-current characteristics, RPA measurements) were led. At the same time, simulations using a two-dimensional hybrid model were performed in single and double stage. A versatile operation for voltages lower than 150 V was highlighted. An emphasis will be given to demonstrate that the current density (given by the ion flux probe) and the ions energy (given by the RPA) might be significantly decoupled

Cancer targeting using carbonic anhydrase isoform IX inhibitors.

PCT /NL2001/000083, 21 décembre 2011