Risk Software Perspective / Recensement des logiciels de risque

With the collaboration of Benoit Aubert Indeed, the complexity of the concept of risk involves the need for high-level tools in order to allow for effective management. The goal of this document is to acquire a global perspective on the principal risk software. By establishing an analysis grid, it is possible to compare the various approaches according to the type of risk analyzed and their respective fields. Such an approach sheds light on the vast market of risk software by isolating their principal characteristics, and to identify possibilities of future improvement. More precisely, the document identifies a number of software programmes which performs risk evaluation, measurement and management. Each work sheet presents software from a specific provider and is divided into four sub-sections. The first sub-section names the supplier, the price, the year of creation, the industries in which the tool is used, the available versions, and the availability of demonstrations. The second sub-section includes a short discussion of the software, its history and its distinctive characteristics. The third sub-section describes the type of risk the supplier addresses, its useful field, the necessary entry data (source, database), the analytical treatment, the output, as well as the necessary support software. Finally, a list of the principal advantages and disadvantages of each software is offered. Avec la collaboration de Benoit Aubert En effet, la complexité de la notion de risque entraîne la nécessité d’avoir accès à un outillage de haut niveau afin de permettre une gestion efficace. Le but de ce document est d’acquérir une perspective d’ensemble par rapport aux principaux logiciels portant sur le risque. En établissant une grille d’analyse, il est possible de comparer les différentes approches selon le type de risque analysé et les domaines d’utilisation. Une telle démarche permet d’éclaircir le vaste ensemble des logiciels de risque en isolant leurs caractéristiques principales pour éventuellement être en mesure de cerner les pistes de développement futur. Plus précisément, le document présente des fiches sur un bon nombre de logiciels qui traitent de l’évaluation, la mesure, l’analyse et la gestion des risques. Chaque fiche présente un logiciel différent ainsi que son fournisseur. Chacune d’entre elles sont divisées en quatre sous-sections. La première nomme le fournisseur, le prix, l’année de création du groupe, les industries dans lesquelles l’outil peut-être utilisé, les versions disponibles et la présence d’un démo. La seconde sous-section comprend une brève discussion du logiciel, de son historique, de la compagnie qui l'a développé et de ses caractéristiques distinctives. La troisième sous-section décrit le type de risque auquel le fournisseur s’adresse, le domaine d’utilisation principal, les données nécessaires à l’entrée (source, base de données, …), le traitement, les données à la sortie ainsi que les logiciels de supports nécessaires. Finalement, une liste des principaux avantages et inconvénients de chaque logiciel est offerte.

Peut-on utiliser des algues marines pour améliorer la qualité de l'eau des bassins d'exposition du Biodôme de Montréal?

Affiche présentée dans le cadre du Colloque de l'ARC, «La relève scientifique et la recherche collégiale : pratiques inspirantes au regard des chercheuses et chercheurs, et enjeux spécifiques à la formation des étudiantes et étudiants», dans le cadre du 84e Congrès de l'Acfas, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, le 10 mai 2016.Dans les bassins d’eau recyclée du Biodôme de Montréal, le contrôle de l’azote et du phosphore dissous est essentiel, car leur accumulation peut dégrader la qualité de l’eau et devenir une source de stress pour les organismes aquatiques. Or, certaines algues marines ont la capacité d’absorber ces polluants tout en produisant de l’oxygène. L’objectif de notre  projet mené à l’École des pêches et de l’aquaculture du Québec était de développer un prototype de filtre biologique à base d’algues cultivées, efficace en termes d’absorption et de séquestration du nitrate et du phosphate dissous. Pour ce faire, les performances de deux espèces d’algues marines du golfe du Saint-Laurent, Palmaria palmata et Ulva lactuca, ont été évaluées dans des conditions similaires à celles des bassins du Biodôme de Montréal, soit deux températures (5 °C et 10 °C) et trois combinaisons de nutriments N-NO3- : P-PO43- (40:6, 50:7,5, 60:9 mg/L). Les résultats indiquent qu’aux densités testées (7 et 3 g AF/L; AF = algues fraîches), au bout de six jours, 10,2 ± 1,5 % du nitrate et 13,83 ± 9,0 % du phosphate présents dans l’eau ont été enlevés par P. palmata tandis que U. lactuca a enlevé 12,7 ± 3,3 % du nitrate et 13,01 ± 9,8 % du phosphate. La vitesse moyenne d’absorption journalière de l’azote par P. palmata était de 0,12 mg N/g AF  vs 0,34 mg N/g AF pour U. lactuca. Si les deux espèces montrent une bonne capacité d’épuration de l’eau, c’est U. lactuca qui absorbe l’azote le plus efficacement

SPHERE IRDIS and IFS astrometric strategy and calibration

We present the current results of the astrometric characterization of the VLT planet finder SPHERE over 2 years of on-sky operations. We first describe the criteria for the selection of the astrometric fields used for calibrating the science data: binaries, multiple systems, and stellar clusters. The analysis includes measurements of the pixel scale and the position angle with respect to the North for both near-infrared subsystems, the camera IRDIS and the integral field spectrometer IFS, as well as the distortion for the IRDIS camera. The IRDIS distortion is shown to be dominated by an anamorphism of 0.60+/-0.02% between the horizontal and vertical directions of the detector, i.e. 6 mas at 1". The anamorphism is produced by the cylindrical mirrors in the common path structure hence common to all three SPHERE science subsystems (IRDIS, IFS, and ZIMPOL), except for the relative orientation of their field of view. The current estimates of the pixel scale and North angle for IRDIS are 12.255+/-0.009 milliarcseconds/pixel for H2 coronagraphic images and -1.75+/-0.08 deg. Analyses of the IFS data indicate a pixel scale of 7.46+/-0.02 milliarcseconds/pixel and a North angle of -102.18+/-0.13 deg. We finally discuss plans for providing astrometric calibration to the SPHERE users outside the instrument consortium.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 3 table

Nature-based coastal restoration: Development of an early-rearing production protocol of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima Linnaeus) for bottom planting activities in the Gulf of St-Lawrence (Québec, Canada)

Successful bottom planting of indigenous macroalgae Saccharina latissima aimed at coastal restoration purposes require the mass production in controlled conditions of strongly fixed, healthy sporophytes followed by optimal transfer techniques in order to ensure viability and vigor of the young seedlings about to be directly introduced in the coastal environment. Early development of S. latissima submitted to different combinations of substrate type (natural vs artificial brick-shaped substrate), gametophyte spraying method (water-based vs binder-based) and water velocity (0.1 vs 0.2 m s-1) was evaluated during a growth trial that lasted 42 days. Overall, all experimental groups (8 in triplicate) reached the targeted length of 15 mm between 35-42 days post-seeding. No strong indications that the proposed 2×2×2 factorial design generated long lasting effects on growth and development indicators were observed (thallus length, SGR and % coverage). The observation of no persistent difference in the growth response of S. latissima under all experimental conditions, demonstrates that it is well suited for mass production of seedlings. Our results and evidenced-based practices led us to conclude that the use of an artificial substrate in combination with a binder-based gametophyte pulverization and the application of a velocity 0.2 m s-1 during early-growth could be adopted in a standardized protocol. We argue that 1) artificial substrates (uniform shape, stackable and rough surface) will most likely allow better use of a vessel’s open deck space and adherence of the developing holdfast; 2) the use of a binder may slow down the dehydration of the propagules and promote adhesiveness to the substrate during rearing, handling and transfer operations and under varying flow rates or wave actions respectively and 3) highest velocity should promote the selection of propagules with strongest attachment and thus possibly limit post-transfer dislodgement. We suggest further studies should 1) focus on identifying optimal gametophyte concentration at the spraying step, in order to reduce production costs and maximise productivity of seedling operations and 2) include biomass determination (g of tissue per cm2) in combination to the semi-quantitative density evaluation (% coverage) based on image-analysis, in order to improve our global assessment of growth

Interactions between Magnetic Nanowires and Living Cells : Uptake, Toxicity and Degradation

We report on the uptake, toxicity and degradation of magnetic nanowires by NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts. Magnetic nanowires of diameters 200 nm and lengths comprised between 1 {\mu}m and 40 {\mu}m are fabricated by controlled assembly of iron oxide ({\gamma}-Fe2O3) nanoparticles. Using optical and electron microscopy, we show that after 24 h incubation the wires are internalized by the cells and located either in membrane-bound compartments or dispersed in the cytosol. Using fluorescence microscopy, the membrane-bound compartments were identified as late endosomal/lysosomal endosomes labeled with lysosomal associated membrane protein (Lamp1). Toxicity assays evaluating the mitochondrial activity, cell proliferation and production of reactive oxygen species show that the wires do not display acute short-term (< 100 h) toxicity towards the cells. Interestingly, the cells are able to degrade the wires and to transform them into smaller aggregates, even in short time periods (days). This degradation is likely to occur as a consequence of the internal structure of the wires, which is that of a non-covalently bound aggregate. We anticipate that this degradation should prevent long-term asbestos-like toxicity effects related to high aspect ratio morphologies and that these wires represent a promising class of nanomaterials for cell manipulation and microrheology.Comment: 21 pages 12 figure

Magnetar Hard X-Ray Emission from Axion-like Particle Conversion

We explore the possibility that axion-like-particles (ALPs), which would be produced in the core of magnetars and would then convert in the magnetosphere into photons, can explain magnetar hard X-ray spectra. We remark that this scenario would also provide answers to some questions related to magnetar heating. Indeed, considering that magnetars have: 1) hard X-ray spectra that are difficult to explain with known mechanisms; 2) large photon luminosities that force high core temperatures; 3) high core temperatures that imply large neutrino emissivities; 4) and large neutrino emissivities that lead to small magnetar lifetimes in contradiction to observations -- explaining the hard X-ray spectra with ALPs could decrease the core temperatures and thus the neutrino emissivities, allowing for longer magnetar lifetimes as expected from observations. In this work, we initiate the study of this scenario for three magnetars with extreme luminosities, and conclude that the general idea is likely worth investigating in more detail.Comment: 1+14 pages, 2 figure

Voix, Traces, Avènement

« Voix, traces, avènement » : ce sont les trois voies d'approche du sujet de l'écriture, notion fondamentale, complexe et ambiguë que les différentes contributions du volume discutent, illustrent, et s'efforcent de préciser. Le sujet de l'écriture – au-delà ou en deçà du Moi de celui qui dit « je » –, c'est celui qui s'investit dans un texte, se dit par son énonciation, prend forme par sa ou ses voix, se constitue par le travail des mots, trace le sillage par lequel il advient. Présence qui fait advenir le texte et qui advient par lui et en lui, le « sujet de l'écriture » se manifeste comme « voix » (« C'est une question de voix, […] comme si c'était ma voix à moi, disant des mots à moi », écrit « l'Innommable » de Beckett) ; par ses « traces » intratextuelles ; et comme « avènement » sensible d'un sujet qui s'énonce, se constitue dans l'acte même d'énoncer. C'est donc une virtualité et un procès qui ne cesse de se remettre en jeu à chaque lecture. Comme l'affirme Henri Meschonnic, « c'est par le langage qu'un sujet advient comme sujet, c'est poétiquement qu'est sujet celui par qui un autre est sujet »

Performance tests on the SPHERE-IFS

International audienceUntil now, just a few extrasolar planets (30 out of 860) have been found through the direct imaging method. This number should greatly improve when the next generation of High Contrast Instruments like Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) at Gemini South Telescope or SPHERE at VLT will became operative at the end of this year. In particular, the Integral Field Spectrograph (IFS), one of the SPHERE subsystems, should allow a first characterization of the spectral type of the found extrasolar planets. Here we present the results of the last performance tests that we have done on the IFS instrument at the Institut de Planetologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG) in condition as similar as possible to the ones that we will find at the telescope. We have found that we should be able to reach contrast down to 5 × 10-7 and make astrometry at sub-mas level with the instrument in the actual conditions. A number of critical issues have been identified. The resolution of these problems could allow to further improve the performance of the instrument

The Receptor Tyrosine Kinase AXL Is Required at Multiple Steps of the Metastatic Cascade during HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Progression

Summary: AXL is activated by its ligand GAS6 and is expressed in triple-negative breast cancer cells. In the current study, we report AXL expression in HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancers where it correlates with poor patient survival. Using murine models of HER2+ breast cancer, Axl, but not its ligand Gas6, was found to be essential for metastasis. We determined that AXL is required for intravasation, extravasation, and growth at the metastatic site. We found that AXL is expressed in HER2+ cancers displaying epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signatures where it contributes to sustain EMT. Interfering with AXL in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) impaired transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-induced cell invasion. Last, pharmacological inhibition of AXL specifically decreased the metastatic burden of mice developing HER2+ breast cancer. Our data identify AXL as a potential anti-metastatic co-therapeutic target for the treatment of HER2+ breast cancers. : Metastasis is responsible for the majority of breast cancer deaths. Goyette et al. report that AXL is expressed in HER2+ human tumors that acquire aggressive features. Blockade of AXL in mice decreases metastasis. These results suggest that co-targeting AXL and HER2 may limit the metastatic progression of HER2+ breast cancer. Keywords: AXL, HER2, breast cancer, metastasis, EMT, PDX, AXL inhibito