Weak Interaction Studies with 6He

The 6He nucleus is an ideal candidate to study the weak interaction. To this end we have built a high-intensity source of 6He delivering ~10^10 atoms/s to experiments. Taking full advantage of that available intensity we have performed a high-precision measurement of the 6He half-life that directly probes the axial part of the nuclear Hamiltonian. Currently, we are preparing a measurement of the beta-neutrino angular correlation in 6He beta decay that will allow to search for new physics beyond the Standard Model in the form of tensor currents.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, proceedings for the Eleventh Conference on the Intersections of Particle and Nuclear Physics (CIPANP 2012

Variational approach to a class of nonlinear oscillators with several limit cycles

We study limit cycles of nonlinear oscillators described by the equation $\ddot x + \nu F(\dot x) + x =0$. Depending on the nonlinearity this equation may exhibit different number of limit cycles. We show that limit cycles correspond to relative extrema of a certain functional. Analytical results in the limits $\nu ->0$ and $\nu -> \infty$ are in agreement with previously known criteria. For intermediate $\nu$ numerical determination of the limit cycles can be obtained.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Degree of tumour vascularity correlates with drug accumulation and tumour response upon TNF-α-based isolated hepatic perfusion

Isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) with melphalan with or without tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is currently performed in clinical trials in patients with hepatic metastases. Previous studies led to the hypothesis that the use of TNF-α in isolated limb perfusion causes specific destruction of tumour endothelial cells and thereby induces an increased permeability of tumour vasculature. However, whether TNF-α contributes to the therapeutic efficacy in IHP still remains unclear. In an in vivo rat liver metastas

Isolated limb perfusion for unresectable extremity cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma; an effective limb saving strategy

Background: A small minority of patients present with locally advanced cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Tumour necrosis factor α (TNF) and melphalan based isolated limb perfusion (TM-ILP) as a limb saving strategy for locally advanced extremity cSCC. Methods: A retrospective search from prospectively maintained databases, at two tertiary referral centers, was performed to identify patients treated with TM-ILP for locally advanced cSSC of an extremity between 2000 and 2015. Results: A total of 30 patients treated with TM-ILP for cSCC were identified, with a median age of 71 years (36–92) and 50% female. Response could not be evaluated in 3 patients. After a median follow up of 25 months, the overall response rate was 81% (n = 22), with 16 patients having a complete response (CR, 59%). A total of 7 patients developed local recurrence, with a median time to recurrence of 9 months (Interquartile Range 7–10). Progressive disease was observed in 5 patients (19%). Limb salvage rate was 80%. The overall 2-year survival was 67%. Conclusions: TM-ILP should be considered as an option in patients with locally advanced cSCC in specialised centers, resulting in a high limb salvage rate

Productivité de trois races bovines françaises, Limousine, Charolaise et Salers. Bilan de 10 ans d'observations en exploitation

National audienceMonitoring of suckler herds of Limousin, Charolais and Salers breeds were launched as early as 1971, to collect data in order to assess the potential of animal production systems and evaluate the mid and long terms evolutions. The calf-crap, the characteristics of the cattle sold and herd's dynamic constitute some of the results necessary for the interpretation of gross margins and farm incomes. Results spanning over 10 years are presented for the three breeds, with each breed studied in its own environment and production systems. The formation of the calf-crop differs. The variable ease of birth influences both the pregnancy rate and the mortality rate of the calves, in particular the perinatal period (within 48 hours of birth). The production system also play a part: i/ the variable length of the calving period has a bearing on the pregnancy rate and the calving intervals; ii/ the culled rate determines the average age of the herd; iii/ the way the culling is conducted impacts on future performances. The calf crop starts drecreasing after 9 to 11 years, and falls rapidly from 13 years on, due to the reduction in pregnancy rate and the increase of the calves' mortality rate. The maximum carcass weight of culled cows is reached at 6-7 years old, then it diminishes regularly. Price of the carcass per kg reaches its peak at 3-4 years to fall down, more rapidly for the oldest cows, even more so in the recent years. Since the first BSE crisis, quality marketing networks have looked for young cows only. Such a trend has not hurt the Charolais area (where the culled rates are above 20 %). But both the Limousin area, where the culled rates are between 14 and 18 % depending as the production systems, and the Salers area, where the culled rates are under 13 % because of the commercial crossbreeding, have been affected. The lowering of the overall age of the herds in the Limousin and Salers areas is a collective goal. Controlling the age of the cows appears as an important factor in cattle management. The published data could be used to elaborate herd husbandry models.Des suivis d’élevages de vaches allaitantes ont été mis en place, dès 1971 en Limousin, Charolais et Salers, en vue de recueillir des références et d’évaluer les potentiels des systèmes de production, puis de juger des évolutions à moyen et long termes. Parmi les résultats nécessaires à l’interprétation des marges et revenus, figurent la productivité numérique en veaux, les caractéristiques des bovins vendus, la dynamique des troupeaux. Des bilans sur dix années sont présentés pour les trois races, chacune étant exploitée dans son propre milieu selon des systèmes de production très divers. La productivité numérique se constitue de façon variable. La plus ou moins grande facilité de vêlage influence à la fois le taux de gestation et la mortalité des veaux. Le système de production intervient aussi : la durée de la période des vêlages influe sur le taux de gestation et les intervalles entre vêlages ; la valeur du taux de réforme détermine l’âge moyen du troupeau ; la manière dont sont effectuées les réformes influe sur les performances ultérieures. La productivité numérique baisse à partir de l’âge de 9 à 11 ans, la chute s’accélère à partir de 13-14 ans, à la fois par la réduction du taux de gestation et par la hausse de la mortalité des veaux. Le poids maximum de carcasse des vaches de réforme est atteint à 6-7 ans puis il diminue régulièrement avec l’âge. Le prix du kg de carcasse est maximum dès 3 à 4 ans et diminue ensuite, plus fortement pour les vaches les plus âgées, plus fortement aussi lors de la période récente. Car depuis la première crise de l’ESB, et plus encore depuis la seconde, les circuits de vente sous signe de qualité ont recherché exclusivement les jeunes vaches. Si cela n’occasionne pas de difficulté en Charolais avec des taux de réforme supérieurs à 20 %, cela pose des problèmes en Limousin où les taux de réforme sont de 14 à 18 % selon le système, et plus encore en Salers où ils sont inférieurs à 13 % lorsque le croisement avec taureau Charolais est pratiqué. Le rajeunissement des troupeaux en Limousin et Salers est un enjeu collectif qui devrait permettre un progrès génétique plus rapide et une meilleure valorisation des vaches de réforme dans les filières de qualité