181 research outputs found
Mise en place de la réglementation issue du décret du 11 décembre 2007 pour les digues maritimes des départements côtiers de la Manche et de Bretagne : état d'avancement, exemples marquants et perspectives
Colloque National Digues Maritimes et Fluviales de Protection contre les Submersions, Aix-en-Provence, FRA, 12-/06/2013 - 14/06/2013National audienceIn France, a national Decree signed on the 11th of December 2007 has significantly strengthened the safety obligations of the fluvial and coastal dike owners. In February 2010, the Xynthia catastrophic storm resulted in an increased awareness of those working on coastal dikes whether they are owners - such as local authorities, owners syndicate ... - or State control authorities.Furthermore, the importance of the French Flash Flood Prevention Program is growing and the first grants for the dike reinforcement have been issued.In this context, three specialized teams of the "regional directions for the environment " (ie the regional level of the French state administration responsible for the control of dike safety) working on the coastline of the English Channel (ie “La Manche”) present in this paper:• a quick overlook of the inventory of coastal and river dikes;• the feedback of the damage caused by the Xynthia storm in the French region of Calvados;• the state-of-progress of the implementation of the regulations created by the 2007 Decree;• Some examples of dike owners who partnered up in order to conduct assessment survey on their embankment system or to realize dikereinforcement work.Le dĂ©cret de dĂ©cembre 2007 a significativement renforcĂ© les prescriptions de sĂ©curitĂ© s'appliquant aux responsables des digues de protection contre les submersions d'origine fluviale et/ou maritime.La tempĂŞte catastrophique Xynthia de fĂ©vrier 2010 a sensibilisĂ© de nombreux acteurs agissant dans le domaine des digues de dĂ©fense maritime - que ceux-ci relèvent de la MaĂ®trise d'Ouvrage (collectivitĂ©s territoriales etassociations de dĂ©fense contre la mer, pour l'essentiel) comme de la mission de ContrĂ´le (DDTM puis DREAL) - pour une mise en oeuvre efficace et pragmatique de cette rĂ©glementation. Enfin, le Plan de lutte contre lesSubmersions rapides monte en puissance avec la labellisation des premiers dossiers de travaux de confortement.Dans ce contexte, plusieurs services de DREAL intervenant dans les dĂ©partements cĂ´tiers de la Manche et de Bretagne s'associent pour proposer la prĂ©sente communication qui vise Ă :• dresser un rapide Ă©tat des lieux du recensement et du classement des digues de front de mer ou de cours d'eau sous influence maritime sur ces cĂ´tes, dans lesquelles sont parfois englobĂ©s des Ă©lĂ©ments naturels tels que des cordons dunaires ;• rapporter le retour d'expĂ©rience suite Ă la tempĂŞte Xynthia et les dĂ©gâts qu'elle a causĂ©s sur les digues du dĂ©partement du Calvados ;• prĂ©ciser l'avancement de la mise oeuvre du dĂ©cret de 2007 ;• prĂ©senter quelques exemples de mutualisation et de regroupement de la maĂ®trise d'ouvrage pour la conduite des Ă©tudes Ă l'Ă©chelle de systèmesd'endiguement ainsi que pour la rĂ©alisation de travaux
Long-term efficacy and safety of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor lomitapide in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder characterized
by low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-receptor dysfunction, markedly elevated
levels of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and premature atherosclerosis. Patients are
often poorly responsive to conventional lipid-lowering therapies that upregulate
LDL-receptor expression
S-allylmercaptocysteine reduces carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic oxidative stress and necroinflammation via nuclear factor kappa B-dependent pathways in mice
Purpose To study the protective effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of SAMC on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute hepatotoxicity in the mouse model. Methods Mice were intraperitoneally injected with CCl4 (50 ÎĽl/kg; single dose) to induce acute hepatotoxicity with or without a 2-h pre-treatment of SAMC intraperitoneal injection (200 mg/kg; single dose). After 8 h, the blood serum and liver samples of mice were collected and subjected to measurements of histological and molecular parameters of hepatotoxicity. Results SAMC reduced CCl4-triggered cellular necrosis and inflammation in the liver under histological analysis. Since co-treatment of SAMC and CCl4 enhanced the expressions of antioxidant enzymes, reduced the nitric oxide (NO)-dependent oxidative stress, and inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by CCl4. SAMC played an essential antioxidative role during CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Administration of SAMC also ameliorated hepatic inflammation induced by CCl4 via inhibiting the activity of NF-ÎşB subunits p50 and p65, thus reducing the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, mediators, and chemokines, as well as promoting pro-regenerative factors at both transcriptional and translational levels. Conclusions Our results indicate that SAMC mitigates cellular damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation in CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxicity mouse model through regulation of NF-ÎşB. Garlic or garlic derivatives may therefore be a potential food supplement in the prevention of liver damage
Adverse effects of the antimalaria drug, mefloquine: due to primary liver damage with secondary thyroid involvement?
BACKGROUND: Mefloquine is a clinically important antimalaria drug, which is often not well tolerated. We critically reviewed 516 published case reports of mefloquine adverse effects, to clarify the phenomenology of the harms associated with mefloquine, and to make recommendations for safer prescribing. PRESENTATION: We postulate that many of the adverse effects of mefloquine are a post-hepatic syndrome caused by primary liver damage. In some users we believe that symptomatic thyroid disturbance occurs, either independently or as a secondary consequence of the hepatocellular injury. The mefloquine syndrome presents in a variety of ways including headache, gastrointestinal disturbances, nervousness, fatigue, disorders of sleep, mood, memory and concentration, and occasionally frank psychosis. Previous liver or thyroid disease, and concurrent insults to the liver (such as from alcohol, dehydration, an oral contraceptive pill, recreational drugs, and other liver-damaging drugs) may be related to the development of severe or prolonged adverse reactions to mefloquine. IMPLICATIONS: We believe that people with active liver or thyroid disease should not take mefloquine, whereas those with fully resolved neuropsychiatric illness may do so safely. Mefloquine users should avoid alcohol, recreational drugs, hormonal contraception and co-medications known to cause liver damage or thyroid damage. With these caveats, we believe that mefloquine may be safely prescribed in pregnancy, and also to occupational groups who carry out safety-critical tasks. TESTING: Mefloquine's adverse effects need to be investigated through a multicentre cohort study, with small controlled studies testing specific elements of the hypothesis
Early-stage thermal performance design of thermo-active walls implemented in underground infrastructures
Energy geostructures (EGs) represent an innovative technology in the sustainable energy agenda and are useful for satisfying the energy needs of the built environment. They are usually involving geostructures such as piles, walls, tunnels, shafts, and sewers. The application of such technology to infrastructure projects may have considerable thermal potential because of the large surfaces that can be thermally activated. This study focuses on thermo-active walls (energy walls, EWs), which are retaining structures used to sustain the sides of excavations. Key features related to their thermal design are examined, and a design methodology is proposed. The heat-exchange modes involving EWs and the surrounding materials (concrete, soil, air) are investigated via extensive three-dimensional hydrothermal finite-element simulations involving the non-isothermal flow in the heat exchangers (HEs), as well as all other heat-exchange modes. The results are first presented as charts related to the thermal behavior of the HEs under different hydrothermal environments. Finally, a methodology for early-stage thermal performance design is proposed, and a corresponding flowchart is presented. This study may be helpful for incorporating EGs into the engineering design
Long-term performance and life cycle assessment of energy piles in three different climatic conditions
The main purpose behind the use of energy piles is to enable the exploitation of geothermal energy for meeting the heating/cooling demands of buildings in an efficient and environment-friendly manner. However, the long-term performance of energy piles in different climatic conditions, along with their actual environmental impacts, has not been fully assessed. In this paper, the results of a finite element model taking into consideration the heating and cooling demands of a reference building, and the intermittent operation of a ground source heat pump, are revealed to examine the long-term performance of energy piles. Furthermore, a life cycle assessment model is implemented to compare the environmental performance of energy piles and a group of conventional piles. The environmental enhancement provided by the adoption of a ground source heat pump system is quantified with respect to a conventional heating and cooling system. The obtained results show that (i) the energy pile system can meet the majority of the heating/cooling demands, except during the peak demands, (ii) the geothermal operation results in temperature fluctuations within the energy piles and the soil, (iii) the use of energy piles results in a significant reduction in environmental impacts in the majority of the examined cases
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