The role of geomorphic controls on the development of defensive networks along the Western Front during the Great War: case study of Champagne and Argonne (france)

The Great War was marked on the western front mainly by a war of position (for 40 out of the 51 months of the conflict) along the 750 km of the front area from Flanders to Alsace. The objective of this article is to understand the spatial organisation of defence networks in the eastern part of the Champagne region (Champagne sèche), the Vallage d’Aisne and in the Argonne region in 1918 by means of an analysis of geographical information system (GIS)-processed trench maps. This article presents a methodology, involving the transfer of fire trenches, communication trenches and vegetation, integrated into a geodatabase, and then cross-referenced with the digital terrain model (DTM). This comparison of three distinct regions with a chalky plateau (Champagne sèche), a wet plain (Vallage d’Aisne) and a sandy plateau covered with forests (Argonne), not only makes it possible to qualify the role of geographical conditions on the Great War but also to quantify the defence networks.Keywords: WW1, trench map, GIS, spatial analysis, Champagne sèche, Vallage d’Aisne, Argonn

New protective coatings against lampenflora growing in the Pommery Champagne cellar

Phototrophic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria and microalgae can proliferate readily in underground heritage sites where the introduction of artificial illumination equipment has significantly altered previously stable environmental conditions. The extended lampenflora biofilm growth on the bas-reliefs carved in the underground Pommery Champagne cellar in Reims (France) represents a recurring biocolonisation problem which requires periodic cleaning. The aim of this work was to limit the growth of lampenflora on chalk substrates using preventative biocidal treatments based on polyoxometalate ionic liquids (POM-ILs). Biocidal assays carried out in laboratory showed how two different colourless POM-IL coatings were more effective than commercial Preventol RI80 against two algal strains isolated from the Pommery bas reliefs, Pseudostichococcus monallantoides and Chromochloris zofingiensis. However, only one POM-IL variant was capable of sustained prevention of biofilm growth when applied to wet chalk, which replicates the more drastic natural environmental conditions of the cellar and can limit the performance of the biocidal coatings. Crucially, coating concentration studies demonstrate how POM-IL-coated slabs from previous experiments retain their biocidal activity and can prevent subsequent recolonisation following the re-inoculation of coated slabs with algae and cyanobacteria. Consequently, POM-ILs represent excellent candidates to eliminate lampenflora growth on the chalk bas-reliefs in the unique subterranean environment of the Pommery Champagne cellar. © 2022 The Author

Shipbreaking literature and sustainability framework

Shipbreaking literature and sustainability framewor

Impact of recent conversion to organic farming on physical properties and their consequences on runoff, erosion and crusting in a silty soil

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of a recent conversion to organic farming on the physical properties, particularly the aggregate stability, of soils that are prone to soil crusting, as well as their impact on runoff, soil erosion and soil crusting dynamics. Experiments were conducted in the area of Brie, France, in two agricultural fields separated by 400 m with similar slopes and soil types. They consisted of physical measurements of the soils as well as simulated rainfalls with different intensities. No significant differences were detected among the bulk density, soil water retention or saturated hydraulic conductivity. The aggregate stability, measured both under simulated rainfall and in a laboratory, was significantly higher in the organic management field (OF) than in the conventional management field (CM), indicating that CM soils are more prone to soil crusting than OF soils. The influence of this difference was quantified using rainfall simulations in the field. Within the CM field, runoff occurred with a runoff coefficient (RC) of 4.8% and 6.9% when the rainfall intensities were 25 and 40 mm h−1, respectively, while in the OF field, no runoff was observed at these intensities. However, slight runoff was observed when the intensity was 50 mm h−1. Soil losses followed the same trend. Depositional soil crusts were observed in the plots wherein runoff transpired. These results evidence the benefits of recent conversion to organic farming in silty soil to the aggregate stability and consequently soil crust dynamics, runoff genesis and soil erosion

Toxicity of pesticides and nanoparticles to neutrophils

International audienceWhile the toxicity and ecotoxicity of herbicide, pesticide and nanoparticles have been reported over the years, the investigation of direct interactions between such chemical compounds and neutrophils have rarely been reported. In the present work, neutrophils cells were extracted from porcine whole blood and used to investigate the toxicity of different classes of toxicants that humans may contact either through the water resources or through in air. Thus, the influences of atrazine, carbofuran, Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and three types of nanoparticles (NPs) with similar sizes, aluminium oxyde NPs (< 50 nm), copper NPs (< 100 nm) and nickel NPs (< 100 nm) on neutrophils have been studied using “in vitro” chemiluminescence experiments. Experimentally, several concentrations of toxicants dissolved or suspended in water or DMSO were incubated with neutrophils for different periods of time. The survival rate and morphology of neutrophils were observed using optical microscope and scanning electron microscope, respectively. Interestingly, it has been found that results are highly dependent on several parameters such as the donor of the blood, type of toxicant, evaporation of aqueous solution from the microtiter plate wells, temperature etc. Moreover, the interaction time between toxicant content and cells played a significant role in the evolution of chemiluminescent signal kinetics. It was also founded that insoluble toxicants (nanomaterials) had stronger effects on neutrophils cells when compared to the soluble chemicals (atrazine, carbofuran and DMSO). Additionally, the experimental results are expected to be compared with the modeling outcome performed by USEtox methodology which is considered as a scientific consensus to assess the toxicity of a product

Freshwater Sediment Characterization Factors of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles

Wide use of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) is likely to result in the eventually accumulation of ENPs in sediment. The benthic organisms living in sediments may suffer relatively high toxic effects of ENPs. This study has selected copper oxide nanoparticles (nano-CuO) as a research object. To consider the impacts of spatial heterogeneity on ENPs toxicity, the characterization factor (CF) derived from life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is used as an indicator in this study. A nano-specific fate model has been used to calculate the freshwater sediment fate factor (FF) of nano-CuO. A literature survey of the nano-CuO toxicology values has been performed to calculate the effect factor (EF). Seventeen freshwater sediment CFs of nano-CuO are proposed as recommended values for subcontinental regions. The region most likely to be affected by nano-CuO is northern Australia (CF of 21.01·10^3 CTUe, comparative toxic units) and the least likely is northern Europe and northern Canada (CF of 8.55·10^3 CTUe). These sediment CFs for nano-CuO could be used in the future when evaluating the ecosystem impacts of products containing nano-CuO by LCA method.Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC

Freshwater Sediment Characterization Factors of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles

Wide use of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) is likely to result in the eventually accumulation of ENPs in sediment. The benthic organisms living in sediments may suffer relatively high toxic effects of ENPs. This study has selected copper oxide nanoparticles (nano-CuO) as a research object. To consider the impacts of spatial heterogeneity on ENPs toxicity, the characterization factor (CF) derived from life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is used as an indicator in this study. A nano-specific fate model has been used to calculate the freshwater sediment fate factor (FF) of nano-CuO. A literature survey of the nano-CuO toxicology values has been performed to calculate the effect factor (EF). Seventeen freshwater sediment CFs of nano-CuO are proposed as recommended values for subcontinental regions. The region most likely to be affected by nano-CuO is northern Australia (CF of 21.01·10^3 CTUe, comparative toxic units) and the least likely is northern Europe and northern Canada (CF of 8.55·10^3 CTUe). These sediment CFs for nano-CuO could be used in the future when evaluating the ecosystem impacts of products containing nano-CuO by LCA method

Une aire de chasse plurimillénaire à Bétheny, le Champs de manœuvre (Marne)

International audiencePreventive archaeological excavations at the ’Champ de Manœuvre’ site in Bétheny have uncovered a series of deep, narrowpits organized around an ancient pond. These pits, some of which contain faunal remains or negatives of wooden stakes, were proba-bly used as hunting traps. Dates cover a long chronological interval between the late Mesolithic and the Hallstatt periods. The studiesreveal that the paleomare, which was probably active as early as the Mesolithic period, was a magnet for wild animals and, indirectly,for hunters. During the Neolithic period, in an open, sparsely wooded environment, water levels tended to fluctuate. This was followedby a gradual drying out and the establishment of a secondary forest during the Bronze Age. The pond was not completely drained andlevelled until the Iron Age, which explains the astonishing functional continuity of this site over time

Une aire de chasse plurimillénaire à Bétheny, le Champs de manœuvre (Marne)

Preventive archaeological excavations at the ’Champ de Manœuvre’ site in Bétheny have uncovered a series of deep, narrowpits organized around an ancient pond. These pits, some of which contain faunal remains or negatives of wooden stakes, were proba-bly used as hunting traps. Dates cover a long chronological interval between the late Mesolithic and the Hallstatt periods. The studiesreveal that the paleomare, which was probably active as early as the Mesolithic period, was a magnet for wild animals and, indirectly,for hunters. During the Neolithic period, in an open, sparsely wooded environment, water levels tended to fluctuate. This was followedby a gradual drying out and the establishment of a secondary forest during the Bronze Age. The pond was not completely drained andlevelled until the Iron Age, which explains the astonishing functional continuity of this site over time