Magnetoelastic modelling in soft nanocrystalline alloys

Magnetoelastic effects in ultra soft nanocrystalline alloys are investigated theoretically and experimentally. From Hc measurements, extraction of magnetoelastic contribution is carried out using a formalism obtained revisiting random anisotropy model (RAM) in the light of domain walls (DW) displacements, our approach based on theoretical investigations on the way of a reversal of a correlated volume (CV) located in the vicinity of a DW. Modelling of magnetoelastic effects shows that even in perfectly relaxed samples, a magnetoelastic contribution exists due to elastic frustration experienced by a CV during its magnetization reversal. Magnitude of this energy is large enough to drive coercivity of samples featuring grain diameter D around 10 nm, which are of major interest for applications

Knowledge management and innovative design: state of the art

International audienceThe objective of this article is to make a state of the art on knowledge management and its bond with the innovating designs. After having presented some general information on knowledge, its typology and its cycle of management, we will move on its patrimonial management, then we will finish on the knowledge management for the innovative design

Distribution of COL8A2 and COL8A1 gene variants in Caucasian primary open angle glaucoma patients with thin central corneal thickness

Purpose: One approach to identify genes that contribute to common complex ocular disorders such as primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is to study the genetic determinates of endophenotypes that are defined by underlying pre-disposing heritable quantitative traits such as central corneal thickness (CCT). Collagen VIII is a major component of Descemet’s membrane and studies in mice have indicated that targeted inactivation of the genes encoding the collagen type 8 alpha1 (Col8a1) and collagen type 8 alpha2 (Col8a2) subunits (COL8A1 and COL8A2) results in thinning of the corneal stroma and of Descemet’s membrane. The purpose of this study is to evaluate COL8A1 and COL8A2 as candidate genes for thin CCT in human POAG patients. Methods: 100 Caucasian POAG patients were enrolled in this study. The entire COL8A1 and COL8A2 coding sequence was determined in 8 patients with CCT586 µm (one standard deviation above the mean). Selected COL8A2 exons containing variants of interest were sequenced in the full POAG cohort. Association and quantitative trait analyses were performed. Results: Three patients with CCT less than 513 µm and advanced POAG were found to have missense changes in COL8A2; two patients had a previously identified mutation, R155Q and one had a novel change, P678L (p=0.0035, Fisher’s exact test). Missense changes were not found in any of the patients with CCT>513 µm and missense changes in the COL8A1 gene were not found in any patient. One common COL8A2 SNP, rs274754 was also statistically associated with CCT (p=0.018). Conclusions: In this study we have identified COL8A2 missense changes in a group of Caucasian patients with very thin CCT and advanced POAG. These results suggest that DNA sequence variants in the COL8A2 gene may be associated with thin corneas in some glaucoma patients. Further study of COL8A2 variants in other patient populations, especially those with thinner CCT such as African-Americans would provide further support for a role of COL8A2 in corneal thickness and in glaucoma

Variabilité à long terme des peuplements de poissons : résultats provenant de rivières françaises et ouest africaines

La variabilité à long terme de 18 peuplements de poissons a été étudiée dans des rivières françaises et ouest africaines. Les principaux résultats sont les suivants : 1) le coefficient de variation (CV) de la richesse spécifique, le CV de l'abondance totale et le CV moyen des espèces constitutives du peuplement augmentent avec la durée de l'étude; 2) selon la classification proposée par GROSSMAN et al. (1990) basée sur le CV moyen de l'abondance des espèces, tous les peuplements étudiés rentrent dans la catégorie des peuplements à fortes fluctuations interannuelles. Cependant certaines populations (les salmonidés en Bretagne par exemple) présentent une faible variabilité de leur densité; 3) dans le Rhône, les peuplements dont les populations manifestent une grande variabilité interannuelle sont ceux présentant le plus grand taux de renouvellement en espèces. Ce résultat est en accord avec l'hypothèse de HORWITZ (1978, "extermination hypothesis"). (Résumé d'auteur

Orange emission in Pr3+-doped fluoroindate glasses

We synthesize and study the properties of praseodymium doped fluoroindate glasses. Glass compositions with praseodymium molar concentrations up to 5% were obtained with good optical quality. Thermal, optical, and luminescence properties are investigated. Judd–Ofelt analysis is used to determine radiative lifetime and emission cross-section of the orange transition originating from the 3P0 level. We find that these glasses are good candidates for the realization of blue diode laser pumped orange lasers for quantum information processing applications

Public perception of geothermal energy at the local level in the UK

Successful development of a new renewable energy technology does not only rely on the success of pilot projects but also to a significant extent on the development of an adequate public engagement strategy. To be able to develop such a strategy a good understanding is required of the public perception of the new technology. Geothermal energy is still an emerging technology in the UK; in the absence of public debate on this topic, media reporting provides a suitable proxy for its public perception. Therefore, this study has gauged the public perception of geothermal energy in the UK by evaluating local news articles from 1980 to 2018. A coding scheme was developed to derive the main themes and to identify both the perceived advantages and hurdles for geothermal development. We focussed on local newspapers to be able to compare public perception in different regions in the UK. Results show a mainly positive perception of geothermal energy in all geographical regions across the UK. Only few articles mention risks, induced seismicity and environmental pollution. In contrast, advantages and positive aspects of geothermal energy, such as its carbon neutral footprint, the enormous amount of available geothermal heat and the potential contribution of geothermal development to the revival of local economies, are much more frequently mentioned. Perceived hurdles that are mostly described in the articles are: (1) the absence of geothermal legislation and subsidies in the UK; (2) the lack of available funding; and finally (3) technological and geological challenges or uncertainties. Finally, we show that geothermal energy is most often related to electricity generation and granite resources, while the only successful deep geothermal site in the UK is a direct-use heating scheme exploiting a sedimentary aquifer