Damages and matter ejection during HVI on brittle structures: implications for space environment

The population of space debris is suspected to grow on earth’s orbits. This might be due to self generation processes occurring when an object impacts a satellite’s surface. As brittle materials, widely used for large solar arrays, are particularly sensitive to HVI in terms of damage and matter ejection, they might play an important role in debris generation. This paper focuses on HVI on thin brittle targets like Hubble silicon solar cells. Simulated and in-situ Front back impacts on both HST-CS and simple SiO2 targets were analyzed. Ejected volume and fragments were collected and filmed to characterize potential secondary debris. A mechanical analysis of damages due to the multilayered structure of solar cells as well as Ls-Dyna SPH calculations have also been performed and are compared to experimental results to assess predictions capabilities of the SPH code

The Cosmed K4 telemetry system as an accurate device for oxygen uptake measurements during exercise

International audienceThe purpose of this study was to test the accuracy of oxygen uptake (VO2) measurements using the Cosmed K4 portable telemetry system. This system of higher technology than the original Cosmed K2 device, contains a CO2 electrode allowing measurements alternatively by either the Cosmed K4 system (K4) or the CPX Medical Graphics (CPX) during a maximum oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) ergocycle test, at rest and during several submaximal exercices (25, 50 and 75% of maximal work rate) in seven subjects. Heart rate values were comparable for exercise at the same work stage during gas collection using the two systems, indicating that the physiological stresses were similar. The VO 2 values did not significantly differ at rest (4.40 ± 0.83 vs 4.16 ± 0.58 ml • min-1 kg-1), at 25% Wmax (20.97 ± 1.31 vs 21.32 ± 2.54 ml • min-1 • kg-1), at 50% Wmax (33.32 ± 3.92 vs 33.50 ± 3.51 ml • min-1. kg-1), at 75% Wmax (47.01 ± 7.51 vs 47.49 ± 7.11 ml • min-1. kg-') and at maximal intensities (62.07 ± 8.48 vs 62.84 ± 11.31 ml • min-1. kg-1) using K4 and CPX devices, respectively. The results of this study indicated that the K4 system was accurate for all oxygen uptake measurements from rest to maximum exercise levels

Design of InGaAs/InP 1.55μm vertical cavity surface emitting lasers

International audienceThe design of an electrically pumped InGaAs quantum well based vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) on InP substrate is presented. Such optically pumped VCSELs have already been demonstrated. To design electrically pumped VCSEL, three simulations steps are needed: optical simulation gives access to the electric field repartition, to design the active zone and the Bragg mirrors. Thermal simulation is helpful to design metallic contacts while the energy band diagram is obtained by electrical simulation to design the buried tunnel junction useful for carrier injection. All these simulations are compared to experiment

Intercomparison of Permittivity Measurement Techniques for Ferroelectric Thin Layers

International audienceThe dielectric properties of a KTa0.65Nb0.35O3 (KTN) ferroelectric composition for a submicronic thin layer were measured in the microwave domain using different electromagnetic characterization methods. Complementary experimental techniques (broadband methods versus resonant techniques, waveguide versus transmission line) and complementary data processing procedures (quasi-static theoretical approaches versus full-wave analysis) were selected to investigate the best way to characterize ferroelectric thin films. The measured data obtained from the cylindrical resonant cavity method, the experimental method that showed the least sources of uncertainty, were taken as reference values for comparisons with results obtained using broadband techniques. The error analysis on the methods used is discussed with regard to the respective domains of validity for each method; this enabled us to identify the best experimental approach for obtaining an accurate determination of the microwave dielectric properties of ferroelectric thin layers

Transcriptomic Analysis of Host Immune and Cell Death Responses Associated with the Influenza A Virus PB1-F2 Protein

Airway inflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of influenza viruses and can lead to a fatal outcome. One of the challenging objectives in the field of influenza research is the identification of the molecular bases associated to the immunopathological disorders developed during infection. While its precise function in the virus cycle is still unclear, the viral protein PB1-F2 is proposed to exert a deleterious activity within the infected host. Using an engineered recombinant virus unable to express PB1-F2 and its wild-type homolog, we analyzed and compared the pathogenicity and host response developed by the two viruses in a mouse model. We confirmed that the deletion of PB1-F2 renders the virus less virulent. The global transcriptomic analyses of the infected lungs revealed a potent impact of PB1-F2 on the response developed by the host. Thus, after two days post-infection, PB1-F2 invalidation severely decreased the number of genes activated by the host. PB1-F2 expression induced an increase in the number and level of expression of activated genes linked to cell death, inflammatory response and neutrophil chemotaxis. When generating interactive gene networks specific to PB1-F2, we identified IFN-γ as a central regulator of PB1-F2-regulated genes. The enhanced cell death of airway-recruited leukocytes was evidenced using an apoptosis assay, confirming the pro-apoptotic properties of PB1-F2. Using a NF-kB luciferase adenoviral vector, we were able to quantify in vivo the implication of NF-kB in the inflammation mediated by the influenza virus infection; we found that PB1-F2 expression intensifies the NF-kB activity. Finally, we quantified the neutrophil recruitment within the airways, and showed that this type of leukocyte is more abundant during the infection of the wild-type virus. Collectively, these data demonstrate that PB1-F2 strongly influences the early host response during IAV infection and provides new insights into the mechanisms by which PB1-F2 mediates virulence

Sistematización del proceso participativo para la creación de la política de innovación en la UNED

Las universidades, como organizaciones sociales requieren transitar en un proceso de transformación que les permita repensar su quehacer y, alcanzar una mayor cercanía a las comunidades educativas, por medio del trabajo en sus áreas sustantivas. La innovación, se constituye en este contexto, en un acicate para la educación superior; que invoca cambio y transformación profunda en lo que hace y en las formas, procesos y herramientas que emplea para lograrlo. Esta concepción de innovación va más allá de lo que se considera en estos días y en diferentes contextos, reducida al uso intensivo de las tecnologías de la información y comunicación. La necesidad de sistematizar y generar conocimiento que permitiera comprender y fortalecer las capacidades innovadoras en la UNED, propició que un grupo interdisciplinario, conformado por decisión abierta e individual de sus integrantes y, con representación de las distintas Vicerrectorías de la universidad, se organizara y conformara el Nodo de Innovación. Este grupo asumió la tarea de investigar el quehacer innovador de la institución y el estudio de distintos marcos de referencia teórico-conceptuales sobre la innovación y la organización para ofrecer a las autoridades universitarias y la comunidad educativa en general, un diseño de sistema de innovación particular orientado a la UNED; sustentado en la aprobación de una política institucional y su respectivo plan de implementación. Esta ponencia explica la sistematización diseñada especialmente por el Nodo de Innovación, en la definición de esa propuesta de la política de innovación como sistema y que desde el mes de julio del 2017, se encuentra en discusión dentro de dos comisiones del Consejo Universitario, con la intención de ser llevada y aprobada al seno del plenario de ese órgano político colegiado

Evidence of a causal and modifiable relationship between kidney function and circulating trimethylamine N-oxide

The host-microbiota co-metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is linked to increased cardiovascular risk but how its circulating levels are regulated remains unclear. We applied "explainable" machine learning, univariate, multivariate and mediation analyses of fasting plasma TMAO concentration and a multitude of phenotypes in 1,741 adult Europeans of the MetaCardis study. Here we show that next to age, kidney function is the primary variable predicting circulating TMAO, with microbiota composition and diet playing minor, albeit significant, roles. Mediation analysis suggests a causal relationship between TMAO and kidney function that we corroborate in preclinical models where TMAO exposure increases kidney scarring. Consistent with our findings, patients receiving glucose-lowering drugs with reno-protective properties have significantly lower circulating TMAO when compared to propensity-score matched control individuals. Our analyses uncover a bidirectional relationship between kidney function and TMAO that can potentially be modified by reno-protective anti-diabetic drugs and suggest a clinically actionable intervention for decreasing TMAO-associated excess cardiovascular risk

A simplified interventional mapping system (SIMS) for the selection of combinations of targeted treatments in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Targeted monotherapies produce high regression rates, albeit for limited patient subgroups, who inevitably succumb. We present a novel strategy for identifying customized combinations of triplets of targeted agents, utilizing a simplified interventional mapping system (SIMS) that merges knowledge about existent drugs and their impact on the hallmarks of cancer. Based on interrogation of matched lung tumor and normal tissue using targeted genomic sequencing, copy number variation, transcriptomics, and miRNA expression, the activation status of 24 interventional nodes was elucidated. An algorithm was developed to create a scoring system that enables ranking of the activated interventional nodes for each patient. Based on the trends of co-activation at interventional points, combinations of drug triplets were defined in order to overcome resistance. This methodology will inform a prospective trial to be conducted by the WIN consortium, aiming to significantly impact survival in metastatic NSCLC and other malignancies

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements