Spreading Static Analysis with Frama-C in Industrial Contexts

International audienceThis article deals with the usage of Frama-C to detect runtime-errors. As static analysis for runtime-error detection is not a novelty, we will present significant new usages in industrial contexts, which represent a change in the ways this kind of tool is employed. The main goal is to have a scalable methodology for using static analysis through the development process and by a development team. This goal is achieved by performing analysis on partial pieces of code, by using the ACSL language for interface definitions, by choosing a bottom-up strategy to process the code, and by enabling a well-balanced definition of actors and skills. The methodology, designed during the research project U3CAT, has been applied in industrial contexts with good results as for the quality of verifications and for the performance in the industrial process

Co-simulation coupling spectral/finite elements for 3D soil/structure interaction problems

International audienceThe coupling between an implicit finite elements (FE) code and an explicit spectral elements (SE) code has been explored for solving the elastic wave propagation in the case of soil/structure interaction problem. The coupling approach is based on domain decomposition methods in transient dynamics. The spatial coupling at the interface is managed by a standard coupling mortar approach, whereas the time integration is dealt with an hybrid asynchronous time integrator. An external coupling software, handling the interface problem, has been set up in order to couple the FE software Code_Aster with the SE software EFISPEC3D

Knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers to emergency contraception among health staff in a tertiary hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon

Background: Unsafe abortion is a scourge worldwide. In Cameroon, modern contraceptive prevalence is 16%, with unmet need of 25%. Knowledge and attitudes of health staff toward emergency contraception (EC) are unknown. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes of health staff towards EC and determine barriers they perceived to its popularization.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary Hospital from April 1, to June 30, 2015 on a convenient sample of 150 health workers.  All the staff present in the facility on the day of the survey was eligible. A pre-tested and anonymous questionnaire was distributed to 150 health staff. Data were analyzed using SPSS® software.Results: The response rate was 78.7% (118/150). Mean age was 34.7 ± 8.8 years and 94.9% (112/118) of respondents were Christians. The mean number of children per respondent was 2.5 ± 1.6 and the mean duration of professional experience was 6.9 ±6.6 years. Eighty nine (75.4%) respondents were women and sixty (50.8%) were nurses. Awareness was good (87.5%), but knowledge was insufficient for 44.1% (52/118) and poor for 11.9% (14/118) of respondents. Attitudes towards EC were appropriate for 44.6% (46/103) of respondents. Eighty percent of respondents were not satisfied with their knowledge and 90.4% requested training on EC. Perceived barriers were: promotion of precocious (82.9% of respondents) and unprotected (75.4%) sex, side effects (70.6%), liability (47.7%) and ethical/religious (42.2%) principles.Conclusions: Knowledge and attitudes of health staff towards EC was inadequate. Promotion of precocious and unprotected sex was the main perceived barrier to EC. Health staff needs training on EC

Molecular analysis of two local falciparum malaria outbreaks on the French Guiana coast confirms the msp1 B-K1/varD genotype association with severe malaria

BACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum outbreaks can occur in the coastal area of French Guiana, where the population is essentially non-immune. Two sporadic outbreaks were observed, including one with severe malaria cases. To characterize these outbreaks and verify previous observations of specific genotype characteristics in severe malaria in this area, all cases from each outbreak were studied. METHODS: P. falciparum genotypes for six genetic loci were determined by PCR amplification from peripheral blood parasites. The msp1/block2 and msp2 genotypes were determined by DNA sequencing. Microsatellite and varD genotyping was based on size polymorphism and locus-specific amplification. RESULTS: The outbreak including severe malaria cases was associated with a single genotype. The other mild malaria outbreak was due to at least five distinct genotypes. CONCLUSION: Two distinct types of outbreak occured despite systematic and sustained deployement of malaria control measures, indicating a need for reinforced vigilance. The varD/B-K1 msp1 linkage and its association with severe malaria in this area was confirmed

Predictors of eclampsia among preeclamptic patients: a case control study in Yaounde, Cameroon

Background: Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal mortality. Eclampsia is a dramatic complication of preeclampsia. This study aimed at identifying clinical predictors of eclampsia among preeclamptic patients.Methods: We carried out a case-control study from November 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015 in six health facilities in Yaounde. Cases were women who have had eclamptic seizures antepartum, perpartum or within 48 hours of delivery. Controls were preeclamptic women who did not convulse till 48 hours after delivery. Unadjusted and adjusted Odds Ratios were calculated.Results: After univariable analysis the following parameters were associated with eclampsia: headache (uOR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.4-6.2) and absence of stable income (uOR: 17.6; 95% CI: 6.2-49.8). After multivariate analysis predictors of eclampsia among pre-eclamptic patients were: age <20 years (aOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.0-5.9), family history of high blood pressure in the mother (aOR: 4.8; 95% CI: 1.2-19.3), antenatal care by a nurse auxiliary (aOR: 9.3; 95% CI: 2.4-35.9), right upper abdominal quadrant pain (aOR: 9.9; 95% CI:1.2-77.9) visual disturbances (aOR:7.9; 95% CI: 2.3-26.9).Conclusions: These predictors of eclampsia can be used for early initiation of aggressive preventive therapy in pre-eclamptic patients

Cyto-mechanoresponsive polyelectrolyte multilayer films.

Cell adhesion processes take place through mechanotransduction mechanisms where stretching of proteins results in biological responses. In this work, we present the first cyto-mechanoresponsive surface that mimics such behavior by becoming cell-adhesive through exhibition of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) adhesion peptides under stretching. This mechanoresponsive surface is based on polyelectrolyte multilayer films built on a silicone sheet and where RGD-grafted polyelectrolytes are embedded under antifouling phosphorylcholine-grafted polyelectrolytes. The stretching of this film induces an increase in fibroblast cell viability and adhesion.journal articleresearch support, non-u.s. gov't2012 Jan 112011 12 20importe

Magnetic Properties of Ferritchromite and Cr‐Magnetite and Monitoring of Cr‐Spinels Alteration in Ultramafic and Mafic Rocks

Spinel is a ubiquitous mineral in mafic/ultramafic rocks. Spinel cores chemistry is extensively used as a petrogenetic proxy while their alteration phases, ferritchromite, and Cr‐magnetite, are used as metamorphic grade indicators. However, the magnetic properties and composition of these phases are still ill‐defined and no consensus exists concerning the metamorphic conditions involved in their formation. Here, we use the magnetic properties of these Cr‐spinel alteration phases, via field‐dependent parameters and observations with a magnetic microscope coupled with mineral chemistry and Mössbauer spectroscopy, to better constrain their composition. We identify Cr‐magnetite by a Curie point of ca. 520°C. We show that it is characterized by an n between 0.1 and 0.2 in the Fe‐Cr spinel formula [Fe2+(Fe1−n Cr n)2 O4], which corresponds to 6–13 wt.% of Cr2O3. The abundance of Cr‐magnetite indicates a strong alteration of Cr‐spinels that could reflect a significant hydrothermal activity rather than a high metamorphism grade. Normalized variation curves of the magnetic susceptibility during heating allow a relative quantification of the contributions of different magnetic phases to the magnetic susceptibility. This highlights a link between ferritchromite destabilization into maghemite at ca. 130°C followed by the destabilization of this maghemite starting at 300°C. We identify specific covariation trends between these two magnetic species characterizing different alteration processes. This study opens the door to magnetic monitoring of the Cr‐spinel alteration state in mafic and ultramafic rocks. It constitutes a new, fast, and weakly destructive way to study the petrological history of both terrestrial and extraterrestrial rocks

The Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit: a consolidated design for the system requirement review of the preliminary definition phase

The Athena X-ray Integral Unit (X-IFU) is the high resolution X-ray spectrometer, studied since 2015 for flying in the mid-30s on the Athena space X-ray Observatory, a versatile observatory designed to address the Hot and Energetic Universe science theme, selected in November 2013 by the Survey Science Committee. Based on a large format array of Transition Edge Sensors (TES), it aims to provide spatially resolved X-ray spectroscopy, with a spectral resolution of 2.5 eV (up to 7 keV) over an hexagonal field of view of 5 arc minutes (equivalent diameter). The X-IFU entered its System Requirement Review (SRR) in June 2022, at about the same time when ESA called for an overall X-IFU redesign (including the X-IFU cryostat and the cooling chain), due to an unanticipated cost overrun of Athena. In this paper, after illustrating the breakthrough capabilities of the X-IFU, we describe the instrument as presented at its SRR, browsing through all the subsystems and associated requirements. We then show the instrument budgets, with a particular emphasis on the anticipated budgets of some of its key performance parameters. Finally we briefly discuss on the ongoing key technology demonstration activities, the calibration and the activities foreseen in the X-IFU Instrument Science Center, and touch on communication and outreach activities, the consortium organisation, and finally on the life cycle assessment of X-IFU aiming at minimising the environmental footprint, associated with the development of the instrument. Thanks to the studies conducted so far on X-IFU, it is expected that along the design-to-cost exercise requested by ESA, the X-IFU will maintain flagship capabilities in spatially resolved high resolution X-ray spectroscopy, enabling most of the original X-IFU related scientific objectives of the Athena mission to be retained. (abridged).Comment: 48 pages, 29 figures, Accepted for publication in Experimental Astronomy with minor editin

The Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit: a consolidated design for the system requirement review of the preliminary definition phase

The Athena X-ray Integral Unit (X-IFU) is the high resolution X-ray spectrometer studied since 2015 for flying in the mid-30s on the Athena space X-ray Observatory. Athena is a versatile observatory designed to address the Hot and Energetic Universe science theme, as selected in November 2013 by the Survey Science Committee. Based on a large format array of Transition Edge Sensors (TES), X-IFU aims to provide spatially resolved X-ray spectroscopy, with a spectral resolution of 2.5 eV (up to 7 keV) over a hexagonal field of view of 5 arc minutes (equivalent diameter). The X-IFU entered its System Requirement Review (SRR) in June 2022, at about the same time when ESA called for an overall X-IFU redesign (including the X-IFU cryostat and the cooling chain), due to an unanticipated cost overrun of Athena. In this paper, after illustrating the breakthrough capabilities of the X-IFU, we describe the instrument as presented at its SRR (i.e. in the course of its preliminary definition phase, so-called B1), browsing through all the subsystems and associated requirements. We then show the instrument budgets, with a particular emphasis on the anticipated budgets of some of its key performance parameters, such as the instrument efficiency, spectral resolution, energy scale knowledge, count rate capability, non X-ray background and target of opportunity efficiency. Finally, we briefly discuss the ongoing key technology demonstration activities, the calibration and the activities foreseen in the X-IFU Instrument Science Center, touch on communication and outreach activities, the consortium organisation and the life cycle assessment of X-IFU aiming at minimising the environmental footprint, associated with the development of the instrument. Thanks to the studies conducted so far on X-IFU, it is expected that along the design-to-cost exercise requested by ESA, the X-IFU will maintain flagship capabilities in spatially resolved high resolution X-ray spectroscopy, enabling most of the original X-IFU related scientific objectives of the Athena mission to be retained. The X-IFU will be provided by an international consortium led by France, The Netherlands and Italy, with ESA member state contributions from Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, with additional contributions from the United States and Japan.The French contribution to X-IFU is funded by CNES, CNRS and CEA. This work has been also supported by ASI (Italian Space Agency) through the Contract 2019-27-HH.0, and by the ESA (European Space Agency) Core Technology Program (CTP) Contract No. 4000114932/15/NL/BW and the AREMBES - ESA CTP No.4000116655/16/NL/BW. This publication is part of grant RTI2018-096686-B-C21 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”. This publication is part of grant RTI2018-096686-B-C21 and PID2020-115325GB-C31 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033