The Central Role of the State in the Governance of Sport and the Olympic Movement in Tunisia, from 1956 to the Present Day

This paper examines the relationship between sport and the Tunisian state, focusing on the issues of governance and regulation. Identified are three periods: from independence to the coup d’état (20 March 1956–7 November 1987), where sport was a component of national identity; Ben Ali’s regime taking control of the Olympic Movement, 1987–2011; and post-2011, which witnessed attempts to achieve democracy. Descriptions of the situation in each of the three periods are followed by analyses of sports policies (objectives, resources, and results), legislation, turning points, and tensions

Strain and correlation of self-organized Ge_(1-x)Mn_x nanocolumns embedded in Ge (001)

We report on the structural properties of Ge_(1-x)Mn_x layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy. In these layers, nanocolumns with a high Mn content are embedded in an almost-pure Ge matrix. We have used grazing-incidence X-ray scattering, atomic force and transmission electron microscopy to study the structural properties of the columns. We demonstrate how the elastic deformation of the matrix (as calculated using atomistic simulations) around the columns, as well as the average inter-column distance can account for the shape of the diffusion around Bragg peaks.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Has the common genet (Genetta genetta) spread into south-eastern France and Italy ?

The common genet (Genetta genetta) is a small carnivoran that was probably introduced from Maghreb into south-western Europe. We reassessed its easternmost European distribution from 110-mostly new-data collected in south-eastern France and Italy, and tested for potential habitat selection, to finally re-evaluate the role of the Rhone as a geographic barrier against eastward migrations. The species was more frequent in river valleys, wetlands and low-mountainous areas (south-eastern France), but also occurred in high-mountainous zones at the French-Italian border. Our results evidenced a significant increase of records (13-fold the number of occurrences previously known) and an apparent absence of habitat selection by the common genet, suggesting a recent, natural spread from the right bank of the Rhne through a zone of 30km with artificial bridges. We finally provide a synthetic, re-assessed distribution map of the common genet in France and Italy, combining 4317 occurrences from French national databases and the 110 records collected herein

Structure and magnetism of self-organized Ge(1-x)Mn(x) nano-columns

We report on the structural and magnetic properties of thin Ge(1-x)Mn(x)films grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on Ge(001) substrates at temperatures (Tg) ranging from 80deg C to 200deg C, with average Mn contents between 1 % and 11 %. Their crystalline structure, morphology and composition have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. In the whole range of growth temperatures and Mn concentrations, we observed the formation of manganese rich nanostructures embedded in a nearly pure germanium matrix. Growth temperature mostly determines the structural properties of Mn-rich nanostructures. For low growth temperatures (below 120deg C), we evidenced a two-dimensional spinodal decomposition resulting in the formation of vertical one-dimensional nanostructures (nanocolumns). Moreover we show in this paper the influence of growth parameters (Tg and Mn content) on this decomposition i.e. on nanocolumns size and density. For temperatures higher than 180deg C, we observed the formation of Ge3Mn5 clusters. For intermediate growth temperatures nanocolumns and nanoclusters coexist. Combining high resolution TEM and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry, we could evidence at least four different magnetic phases in Ge(1-x)Mn(x) films: (i) paramagnetic diluted Mn atoms in the germanium matrix, (ii) superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic low-Tc nanocolumns (120 K 400 K) and (iv) Ge3Mn5 clusters.Comment: 10 pages 2 colonnes revTex formatte

Behaviour and performance of a dynamic cobble berm revetment during a spring tidal cycle in North Cove, Washington State, USA

In many places, sandy coastlines and their associated assets are at high risk of erosion and flooding, with this risk increasing under climate change and sea level rise. In this context, dynamic cobble berm revetments represent a potentially sustainable protection technique to armour sandy beaches, reduce wave runup and protect the hinterland against wave attack. However, the behaviour and performance of such structures is not well understood. The dynamic cobble berm revetment located in North Cove, WA, USA, was monitored over a spring tidal cycle in January 2019. A representative 60 m alongshore section was monitored over 10 days using 2D laser scanner (lidar) measurements, GPS ground elevation surveys, Radio Frequency Identification of individual cobbles and revetment thickness measurements. These data were used together to assess the dynamic behaviour and functionality of the revetment throughout the experiment. Over the course of the experiment, the surface elevation changed by up to ±0.5 m, and the revetment volume reduced by an average 0.67 m3/m. These changes were found to be caused by relatively large significant wave height and high water levels. The revetment demonstrated a dynamic stability and the capacity to quickly reshape under changing hydrodynamic conditions. The instrumented cobbles were transported along and cross-shore and accumulated at the toe of the revetment, but were never transported seaward of the toe. The revetment also managed to recover some of the lost volume under moderate wave conditions. The revetment behaviour was found to be influenced by variation in the cobble-sand matrix. The underlying sand dynamics – i.e., accumulation or removal of sand within the cobbles – were found to govern the overall volume changes and were important to the overall stability of the revetment. Seven possible transport regimes were identified, and a model of the internal sand dynamics was developed. During the spring tidal cycle measured here, the revetment protected the sand scarp immediately landward and prevented flooding of the hinterland, while armouring the underlying sand. Over time, renourishment will likely be required due to longshore sediment transport, and preliminary guidelines for this and other aspects of design are suggested.</p

The influence of laser relative intensity noise in the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

LISA is an upcoming ESA mission that will detect gravitational waves in spaceby interferometrically measuring the separation between free-falling testmasses at picometer precision. To reach the desired performance, LISA willemploy the noise reduction technique time-delay interferometry (TDI), in whichmultiple raw interferometric readouts are time shifted and combined into thefinal scientific observables. Evaluating the performance in terms of these TDIvariables requires careful tracking of how different noise sources propagatethrough TDI, as noise correlations might affect the performance in unexpectedways. One example of such potentially correlated noise is the relativeintensity noise (RIN) of the six lasers aboard the three LISA satellites, whichwill couple into the interferometric phase measurements. In this article, wecalculate the expected RIN levels based on the current mission architecture andthe envisaged mitigation strategies. We find that strict requirements on thetechnical design reduce the effect from approximately 8.7 pm/rtHz perinter-spacecraft interferometer to that of a much lower sub-1 pm/rtHz noise,with typical characteristics of an uncorrelated readout noise after TDI. Ourinvestigations underline the importance of sufficient balanced detection of theinterferometric measurements.<br