Status report on the GANIL facility

http://accelconf.web.cern.ch/AccelConf/c84/papers/a02.pdfInternational audienc

Status report on the first six years of GANIL operation

http://accelconf.web.cern.ch/AccelConf/c89/papers/d-06.pdfInternational audienc

Die Romeins-Hollandse reg na 300 jaar gehandhaaf en versterk

„Driemaal het Rome aan die wêreld wette gedikteer, driemaal die volkere tot eenheid verbind”— met hierdie woorde begin een van die beroemdste juriste van die 19de eeu sy ewe beroemde werk oor „Die gees van die Romeinse reg”—„die eerste keer, toe die Romeinse volk nog in die volheid van sy krag gestaan het, tot eenheid van staat, die tweede keer, toe hy reeds ondergegaan was, tot eenheid van kerk, die derde keer, as gevolg van die resepsie van die Romeinse reg in die Middeleeue, tot eenheid van reg; die eerste keer met geweld van buite deur die mag van wapens, die ander twee keer deur die mag van die gees

GANIL RF systems : feedback control system and electronics

http://accelconf.web.cern.ch/AccelConf/c81/papers/ep-10.pdfInternational audienc

Effects of a Carbon-Plated Racing Shoe on Running Economy at Slower Running Speeds

Advancements in running shoe technology, such as the inclusion of a carbon-fiber plate along with new, thicker midsole foams, have been shown to improve running economy. Running economy can be defined as the oxygen consumption (VO2) or caloric expenditure at a fixed running speed. Specifically in the Nike Vaporfly line of racing shoes, running economy improvements have been shown in the 2.7-4.2% range at running speeds of 14-18 km·hr-1. These previously tested speeds are relevant for runners completing the marathon distance in 3 hours and faster. However, it is unclear if the same running economy benefits are conferred at slower running paces. PURPOSE: Determine the effects of the Nike Vaporfly Next% 2 (NVF2) on running economy at 10 and 12 km·hr-1. METHODS: NVF2 was compared to a mass-matched, control (CTRL) shoe, the Asics Hyper Speed. Sixteen runners (8 male: 29 ± 15 years, 68.8 ± 10.9 kg, 17.2 ± 4.7 % body fat, 5-km best: 19.1 ± 2.6 min; 8 female: 38 ± 7 years, 58.5 ± 7.4 kg, 23.6 ± 3.0 % body fat, 5-km best: 20.3 ± 2.2 min) completed 4 x 5-minute trials at 10 km‧hr-1, followed by another series of 4 x 5-minute trials at 12 km‧hr-1 on the same day. There was a 5-minute seated rest between trials. Each shoe was tested twice at each speed in a mirrored sequence with the order counterbalanced across subjects. Metabolic and running mechanics data were collected and averaged. Data were analyzed by a two-way (shoe x speed) repeated measures ANOVA. Significant interactions were followed up with paired sample t-tests. RESULTS: There was a significant shoe x speed interaction for VO2 (p = 0.021). At 12 km‧hr-1, VO2 (ml·kg-1·min-1) was lower (-1.4 ± 1.1%; p \u3c 0.001) for NVF2 (35.8 ± 1.7) relative to CTRL (36.4 ± 1.7). This was greater in magnitude than the differences observed at 10 km‧hr-1 (-0.9 ± 1.8%; p = 0.065) between NVF2 (29.4 ± 1.9) and CTRL (29.6 ± 1.9). Mechanics data showed main effects for shoe condition (p \u3c 0.05) with a decreased cadence (~1.1 step·min-1) and increased vertical oscillation (~0.17 cm) in NVF2 relative to CTRL. CONCLUSION: From these data, it appears that the NVF2 still provides benefits to running economy at 12 km‧hr-1 (~3.5-hour marathon pace), however these benefits may be smaller in magnitude (1.4%) compared to previous research (2.7-4.2%) at faster speeds of 14-18 km‧hr-1. These benefits may be reduced even further (0.9%) at 10 km‧hr-1 (~4.2-hour marathon pace)

Effect of Treadmill Surface Stiffness on the Running Economy Benefits of a Highly-Cushioned Racing Shoe: A Pilot Study

Running economy (RE) is defined as the oxygen consumption (VO2) at a given running speed. The Nike Vaporfly line of racing shoes, which includes more compliant and resilient midsole foam and a carbon-fiber plate, have been shown to improve RE during treadmill testing. Previous research suggests that RE in general is worse on treadmills with stiffer running platforms. However, it is unclear if the magnitude of the RE benefits provided by these new shoes relative to a control shoe differ based on treadmill stiffness. Given that some treadmill platforms allow more flex or compliance, this may be an important consideration when comparing the effects of new footwear. Placing shims under the spans of a treadmill can increase surface stiffness and allow for such comparisons. PURPOSE: Determine the RE benefits of the Nike Vaporfly NEXT% 2 (VFN2) racing shoe relative to a mass-matched control (CTRL) shoe, under shimmed (SHIM) and non-shimmed (NON) treadmill conditions. METHODS: Four male runners (23 ± 8 years, 176 ± 4 cm, 61.8 ± 8.6 kg) completed 8 x 5-minute trials at 12 km·hr-1 on a level, motorized treadmill (Cardiac Science TM 55) with a 5-minute rest between trials. Both the VNF2 and CTRL shoe were tested twice under both the SHIM and NON treadmill conditions. The Asics Hyper Speed was used as the CTRL shoe given its traditional midsole foam and absence of a carbon-fiber plate. Approximately 16 g was added to VFN2 to mass-match the CTRL shoe. For the SHIM trials, an adjustable screw jack was elevated under both sides of the treadmill spans near the location of foot strike. VO2 was measured continuously throughout each trial and averages from the final 2-minutes for each of the two trials for a given shoe-treadmill condition were determined. RESULTS: VFN2 improved RE to a similar extent relative to CTRL for NON (1.2 ± 0.7%; p = 0.041) and for SHIM (1.1 ± 0.43%; p = 0.013) treadmill conditions. The average difference (NON minus SHIM) in the % energy savings conferred by the VFN2 was only 0.08 ± 0.29%. VO2 (ml·kg-1·min-1) is provided for each subject based on shoe-treadmill condition with % reductions in VO2 for VFN2 relative to CTRL displayed for each treadmill condition. Subject A: CTRL-NON 36.68, VFN2-NON 36.16; 1.41%; CTRL-SHIM 37.02, VFN2-SHIM 36.50; 1.40%. Subject B: CTRL-NON 37.98, VFN2-NON 37.22; 2.02%; CTRL-SHIM 37.45, VFN2-SHIM 36.88; 1.53%. Subject C: CTRL-NON 37.26, VFN2-NON 36.90; 0.98%; CTRL-SHIM 37.86, VFN2-SHIM 37.49; 0.98%. Subject D: CTRL-NON 38.41, VFN2-NON 38.26; 0.39%; CTRL-SHIM 38.43, VFN2-SHIM 38.21; 0.57%. Independent of shoe condition, SHIM resulted in worse RE for subject A and C, improved RE for subject B, and left RE unchanged for subject D. CONCLUSION: Shimming the span of the Cardiac Science TM 55 treadmill to increase surface stiffness may negatively impact RE overall for some individuals. However, this does not appear to impact the benefits provided by the VFN2 relative to a CTRL shoe at the 12 km·hr-1 speed tested in this pilot study

Evaluation Strategies for Datalog-based Points-To Analysis

During the last decade, several hard problems have been described and solved in Datalog in a sound way (points-to analyses, data web management, security, privacy, and trust). In this work, we describe novel evaluation strategies for this language within the context of program analyses. We first decompose any Datalog program into a program where rules have at most two atoms in their body. Then, we show that a specialized bottom-up evaluation algorithm with time and memory guarantees can be described as the on-the-fly resolution of a Boolean Equation System (Bes). The resolution computes all ground atoms in an efficient way thanks to a compact data structure with constant time access that has so far not been used in the Datalog or the Bes literature. A prototype has been developed and tested on a number of real Java projects in the context of Andersen’s points-to analysis. Experimental results show that our prototype is better than state-of-the-art solvers in terms of resolution time and memory consumption

Unique growth pattern of human mammary epithelial cells induced by polymeric nanoparticles.

Due to their unique properties, engineered nanoparticles (NPs) have found broad use in industry, technology, and medicine, including as a vehicle for drug delivery. However, the understanding of NPs' interaction with different types of mammalian cells lags significantly behind their increasing adoption in drug delivery. In this study, we show unique responses of human epithelial breast cells when exposed to polymeric Eudragit® RS NPs (ENPs) for 1-3 days. Cells displayed dose-dependent increases in metabolic activity and growth, but lower proliferation rates, than control cells, as evidenced in tetrazolium salt (WST-1) and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assays, respectively. Those effects did not affect cell death or mitochondrial fragmentation. We attribute the increase in metabolic activity and growth of cells culture with ENPs to three factors: (1) high affinity of proteins present in the serum for ENPs, (2) adhesion of ENPs to cells, and (3) activation of proliferation and growth pathways. The proteins and genes responsible for stimulating cell adhesion and growth were identified by mass spectrometry and Microarray analyses. We demonstrate a novel property of ENPs, which act to increase cell metabolic activity and growth and organize epithelial cells in the epithelium as determined by Microarray analysis

Measurement of Dust Optical Properties in Coalsack

We have used FUSE and Voyager observations of dust scattered starlight in the neighborhood of the Coalsack Nebula to derive the optical constants of the dust grains. The albedo is consistent with a value of $0.28 \pm 0.04$ and the phase function asymmetry factor with a value of $0.61 \pm 0.07$ throughout the spectral range from 900 -- 1200 \AA, in agreement with previous determinations as well as theoretical predictions. We have now observed two regions (Ophiuchus and Coalsack) with intense diffuse background radiation and in both cases have found that the emission is due to light from nearby hot stars scattered by a relatively thin foreground cloud, with negligible contribution from the background molecular cloud.Comment: Total 19 pages, Figures 9, Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journa