Single step links of the superdeformed band in Pb-194:A measure of the absolute excitation energy, spin and parity of the superdeformed states

The EUROGAM array has been used to investigate the decay out of the yrast superdeformed (SD) band in Pb-194. Six single step decays from the lowest observed SD slates to low-lying states at normal deformation (ND) have been identified. From this observation, the excitation energy of the SD band in Pb-194 is established at 4877 +/- 1.5 keV for the 6(+) SD state. The most probable spins and parities of all members of the SD band are also deduced assuming that the SD states have even spin and positive parity

Anthropometric data of the 3 and 6 year−old child regarding the position of the safety belt

This anthropological study intends to describe first the morphological characteristics of 3 and 6 years old children, and then to evaluate the safety belt position regarding the children seated in a car with different Child Restraint System (CRS). This work is based on a measurement survey which allowed to acquire anthropometric data in two approaches: somatologic data, including dimensions in standing and sitting positions (14 measurements) biometric data on the same subjects seated in a car with different restraint systems (15 measurements) The survey was conducted in a school located in the northern part of France, after obtaining compulsory authorizations from the relevant authorities. 71 children have been measured (33 three year-old and 38 six yearold). The car used for the survey is a Peugeot 308 and the backseat has been measured. The two CRSs which have been used and measured are: a child seat (CRS1) which belongs to the European standard group 1 (children weight between 9 to 18 kg) and a booster which belongs to the groups 2 and 3 (15 to 36 kg). Children of 3 years old have been measured in the CRS1 and CRS2. Those of 6 years old have been measured in the CRS2 and without CRS. Standard anthropometric tools have been used: height gauge, sliding calipers, tape measure, scales. For each age, the main percentile values of all dimensions of the children morphology have been provided. Several measurements of the belt position regarding morphological anatomical points of the child in the car with the different Child Restraint Systems (CRSs) have been performed. This allows to check the suitability of the belt regarding the morphology of the child in a restraint system. The European mass classification appears as not relevant for 75% of the 3 year-old because they can be both in CRS1 and CRS2 according to their weight. The 95th percentile of the 3 year-old appears to be out of the limit and can only be in the booster seat. As for the 6 year-old, if all the children fit in the booster seat according to their weight, children between the 5th and the 25th percentile could also be placed in a child seat. This work has been performed within the European Project CASPER "Child Advanced Safety Project for European Roads" co-funded by the EC under the 7th Framework Program (http://www.casper-project.eu)

Hydrogeochemical Assessment of Groundwater in the Precambrian Rocks, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

International audienceThis work refers to the characterization of the hydrochemistry of the southern part of the Eastern Desert in Egypt, on the basis of physico-chemical properties of groundwater occurring in the fractured Precambrian rocks inland and in sedimentary formations on the coastline of the Red Sea. Thirty-five groundwater samples have been collected from the study area for hydrochemical investigations to understand the sources of dissolved ions and assess the chemical quality of the groundwater. Several methods were used to interpret the hydrochemical data, i.e. graphical methods, principal components analysis, ions exchanges indices and saturation indices of various minerals. The results show that the major ionic relationships are Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ and Cl- > > HCO3- and that groundwater chemical characteristics are controlled by natural geochemical processes but also, to a lesser extent, by anthropogenic activities. Natural minerals dissolution, ion exchanges and evaporation play a prominent role in the ion enrichment of groundwater. A comparison of groundwater quality in relation to WHO water quality standards proved that most of the water samples are not totally suitable for drinking water purpose

PUBLIC PRIORITIES FOR THE CHANNEL: A review of policy and research areas to support future management of the Channel (English Edition 2015).

This report presents the findings of a public survey, details as follows: Funded by the INTERREG IV-A France (Channel) - England programme, the Promoting Effective Governance of the Channel Ecosystem (PEGASEAS) project commissioned a survey of 2000 respondents (999 in England and 1001 in France). The aim of that survey was to better understand public perceptions of the Channel. This research is intended to provide recommendations and identify future challenges for the INTERREG V Programme. It is important to understand this for several reasons: (1) There is a lack of assessment of how the public use the Channel, improved information will help to underpin our evidence base on how the public engage with the marine and coastal environment. (2) Public support is highly influential in determining the success of management, planning and conservation in the Channel region. Understanding the public’s views on future priorities for the governance of the Channel will enable national and local authorities to make informed decisions on future funding priorities and management. (3) There is a lack of information on how actively the Channel community engage in pro-environmental behaviours, behaviours that consciously seek to minimise impact on the environment. This knowledge will assist in developing and targeting future educational and awareness strategies

Effect of reproduction on escape responses, metabolic rates and muscle mitochondrial properties in the scallop Placopecten magellanicus

International audienceIn scallops, gametogenesis and spawning can diminish the metabolic capacities of the adductor muscle and reduce escape response performance. To evaluate potential mechanisms underlying this compromise between reproductive investment and escape response, we examined the impact of reproductive stage (pre-spawned, spawned and reproductive quiescent) of the giant scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, on behavioural (i.e., escape responses), physiological (i.e., standard metabolic rates and metabolic rates after complete fatigue) and mitochondrial capacities (i.e., oxidative rates) and composition. Escape responses changed markedly with reproductive investment, with spawned scallops making fewer claps and having shorter responses than pre-spawned or reproductive-quiescent animals. After recuperation, spawned scallops also recovered a lower proportion of their initial escape response. Scallop metabolic rate after complete fatigue (VO2max) did not vary significantly with reproductive stage whereas standard metabolic rate (VO2min) was higher in spawned scallops. Thus spawned scallops had the highest maintenance requirements (VO2min/VO2max). Maximal capacities for glutamate oxidation by muscle mitochondria did not change with reproductive stage although levels of ANT and cytochromes as well as cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) activity did. Total mitochondrial phospholipids, sterols and the proportion of phospholipid classes differed only slightly between reproductive stages. Few modifications were detected in the fatty acid (FA) composition of the phospholipid classes except in cardiolipin (CL). In this class, pre-spawned and spawned scallops had fairly high proportions of 20:5n-3 whereas this FA in reproductive-quiescent scallops was threefold lower and 22:6n-3 was significantly higher. These changes paralleled the increases in CCO activity and suggest an important role of CL on the modifications of CCO activity in scallops. However, mitochondrial properties could not explain the decreased recuperation ability from exhausting exercise in spawned scallops. Shifts in maintenance requirements (VO2min/VO2max) and aerobic scope (VO2max - VO2min) provided the best explanation for the impact of reproduction on escape response performance

Caractérisation de l'endommagement post-impact dans un composite PA6.6/6-Sergé2.2 : indentation permanente et micro-tomographie X

International audienceThe present experimental works study the response of a polyamide 6.6/ 6 reinforced with woven glass fibers to drop weight solicitations. Several tests were carried out under numerous impact energies. A quantitative along with a qualitative study of the induced damage are the main objectives of this study. Differentnon-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods were utilized for this purpose. The damage mechanisms were each identified using X-Ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). The impacted area was first localized using C-scan imaging, and then the depth and diameter of permanent indentation left on the impactedsurface were extracted from the ultrasonic map. These measures were later validated using 3D optical profilometry. Afterwards, a link between the X-Ray tomography results and the PI measurements was established.Dans cette étude, des essais d’impacts à faible vitesse ont été réalisés sur un polyamide 6.6/6 renforcé de fibres de verre tissées.L’objectif principal est d’étudier qualitativement et quantitativement l’endommagement induit ainsi que sa détectabilité au moyen de différentes méthodologies expérimentales.Pour ce faire, plusieurs méthodes de contrôle non destructif (CND) ont été employées. L’identification des différents mécanismes d’endommagements a été effectuée par micro-tomographie à rayons X (μCT). Des mesures ultrasonores par imagerie C-scans en transmission et en réflexion ont été utilisés pour localiser la zone endommagée ainsi que pour extraire les informations relatives à l’indentation permanente observée sur la face impactée. Ces informations ont ensuite été vérifiées par une mesure de la planéité à l’aide de la profilometrie optique3D. Une corrélation entre les résultats obtenus par micro-tomographie à rayons X et la taille de l’indentation permanente a été réalisée