How to survive the GNU AUTOTOOLS

Виживання GNU Autotools зараз на устах у тих, хто використовує Autotools, зокрема Autoconf, Automake та Libtool.Surviving the GNU Autotools is a technical talk for anyone that has to use the Autotools, namely Autoconf, Automake, and Libtool

Diffuse transport in clay media: µm to nm scale characterization of pore space and mineral spatial organization

In the framework of radioactive waste repository, clayrock formations are foreseen as barrier materials due to their diffusion properties. In clay materials, the dominant transport mode is diffusive and depends mainly on various parameters such as the mobility of the species in water, the accessible porosity, the pore space geometry and the retardation as a result of reactions such as sorption or ion exchange (Tournassat and Appelo, 2011). In this way, the European CATCLAY project (EURATOM FP7), in the context with research on transport in porous materials, was proposed to describe the cation migration processes in natural clayrocks. The project is structured along 3 RTD workpackages, combining modeling and experimental studies from a simpler, analogous system (monophasic compacted clay system) to clayrocks (Callovo-Oxfordian argillites, Opalinus Clay and Boom Clay). Part of this experimental studies focuses on small scale structure (µm - nm) property of rocks in order to determine how the spatial distribution of mineral and pores at small scales can influence diffusion driven transport of sorbing cations. The present study focuses on compacted illite properties (simpler analogous system) in hopes to extent this study to the natural clayrock formation. Illite was chosen by the way that is the main constituent of clayrock. Compacted illite material represents thus an analogy with the clay matrix constituting clay-rocks. Our approach is mainly based on imaging the small scale structural organization of compacted illite material and analyzing the obtained images in order to extract information on pore space and mineral spatial distribution. Techniques for imaging the texture of illite material like water saturated, in compacted state, were first developed. The first step was to improve classic resin impregnation method in order to preserve the texture without losing the clay confinement and modifying the pore space geometry. This has been done by taking into account the molecule size of the monomer, the low viscosity, the dipole moment (adapted for the clayrock with swelling clay content) and the controlled time polymerization. MMA monomer proved to be the most suitable resin in our study. The small scale structure of impregnated sample was then imaged in 2D using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and in 3D using Focused Ion Beam coupled to Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB/SEM). For TEM observations, a set of ultra-thin serial sections (50 - 100 nm) were cut using a microtome. A set of 2D images were then acquired using a resolution ranged between 100 nm and 10 Å. TEM images clearly show us the multi-scale organization of clay materials (Figure 1 and 2); we observe the 10 Å spacing sheets constituting the illite particles, nanometer size illite clay particles more or less aggregated and the surrounding pores having a size ranging from few hundred nanometers to nanometer. FIB/SEM analysis is currently in progress. From FIB/SEM, a set of serial images can be acquired using the "slice and view" method (Keller et al., 2011). Then, 2D FIB/SEM images need to be aligned to reconstruct a 3D volume. Image resolution is limited to 10-20 nm. Both methodologies (FIB-tomography and TEM techniques) are thus complementary method for the up-scaling characterization of the structural organization of compacted clayey materials. TEM images analysis allow to scale down the resolution size since only a part of the pore space could thus be imaged with FIB/SEM method (Keller et al., 2011). Viewing and performing a qualitative description of images constitute a major result and can help us to better understand how the transfer pathways and retention sites are organized in the porous media. Thanks to image analysis method, pores and minerals can be thresholded from grey level TEM and FIB/SEM images. Quantitative parameters can be then computed based from segmented images. In this objective, we currently focus our analysis in order to determine the size and the morphology of pores, the main geometrical features of clay particles (number of layers, size, shape...), the spatial distribution of clay particles (individual/aggregates, type of contact between the clay particles, orientation...) and the pores connectivity. Quantitative parameters are expected to be used in various transfer modeling approaches. This will be done in the framework of SIMISOL project which is focused on the modeling cation diffusion from atomic to nanometer scales

Attenuating through Aid the Vulnerability to Price Shocks

The purpose of this paper is to examine what kind of global measures may be efficiently implemented to help the developing countries to face price shocks, avoiding the past failures, which needs to take into account the long term trend of the markets. Firstly, we recall the nature of the vulnerability to price shocks: this legitimates to make the dampening of these shocks a reasonable goal for the development cooperation policy. Then, we consider the rationality of some international schemes of insurance or of guarantee which could be implemented through international assistance for countries facing price shocks: this assistance should be provided on a macroeconomic level, in particular through debt management, and on a microeconomic level, for instance through an insurance for the producers. The general principle underlying our proposals is that international assistance can enable developing countries to face price shocks, while taking into account the market signals, by offering a guarantee to these countries provided they respect some management rules.

The metabolic inter-relationships between changes in waist circumference, triglycerides, insulin sensitivity and small, dense low-density lipoprotein particles with acute weight loss in clinically obese children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles are highly atherogenic and strongly associated with obesity-related dyslipidemia. The metabolic inter-relationships between weight loss induced changes in waist circumference, triglycerides, insulin sensitivity and small-dense LDL particles in clinically obese children and adolescents have not been studied. METHODS: Seventy-five clinically obese boys and girls (standardized body mass index 3.07 ± 0.59, aged 8-18 years) were recruited. Anthropometric, body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors were measured pre- and post-weight loss. RESULTS: There were highly significant reductions in anthropometric, body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors. Triglyceride change was positively correlated with LDL peak particle density and percentage LDL pattern B changes (relative abundance of small, dense LDL particles). Multiple regression analyses showed that changes in triglyceride concentration accounted for between 24 and 18% of the variance in LDL peak particle density and percentage LDL pattern B change, respectively. Changes in waist circumference and insulin sensitivity did not predict these changes in LDL characteristics. CONCLUSION: Acute and highly significant weight loss significantly decreased LDL peak particle density and percentage LDL pattern B. The change in triglycerides was a strong predictor of LDL peak particle density and percentage LDL pattern B change

Morphology and sedimentary architecture of a modern volcaniclastic turbidite system: The Cilaos fan, offshore La Réunion Island

International audienceRecent oceanographic surveys revealed the existence of five volcaniclastic deep-sea fans off La Réunion Island. The Cilaos fan is a large volcaniclastic submarine fan, connected to rivers that episodically experience torrential floods through a narrow and steep shelf-slope system. New piston cores presented in this study together with echosounder profiles give new insight into the evolution of this extensive and sand-rich turbidite system. The Cilaos fan extends over 15,000 km2 on an abyssal plain and is compartmentalized by topographic highs. Located southwest of the island, the sedimentary system consists of a canyon area and a deep sea fan divided into a proximal and a distal fan. The proximal fan is characterized by its wide extent and coarse-grained turbidites. The distal fan is characterized by elongated structures and fine-grained turbidites. A detailed morphological study of the fan which includes the analysis of swath bathymetry, backscatter, echosounder, and piston core data shows that the Cilaos fan is a complex volcaniclastic deep-sea fan, highly influenced by preexisting seafloor irregularities. The canyons and the slope area show a complex and evolving sediment feeding system with a direct sediment input by the river and irregular sediment supply by submarine landslide. Three main construction stages are identified for this system: (1) an old incision phase of the channels forming wide turbidites extending over the entire distal fan; (2) a period of no or low activity characterized by a thick layer of hemipelagic mud; and (3) a local reactivation of the channel in the proximal fan. Each stage seems to be linked to a different sediment source with a progressively increasing contribution of hemipelagic sediment and mud in younger stages

Differential δ13C and δ15N signatures among scallop tissues: Implications for ecology and physiology

International audienceThere have been several studies where the isotopic composition of organisms has been determined seasonally, but fewer have examined separate organs. In this context, separate organs (e.g. gonad, digestive gland and muscle), of a suspension-feeder, the scallop Pecten maximus, were used to assess seasonal changes of both stable isotopes and biochemical components. Our study used multiple indicators (stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes ratios, biochemical components and seston Chl a) to track nutritive activity and energy allocation in P. maximus from the Bay of Brest (France). In addition to seasonal variation in the isotopic composition of P. maximus tissues, we found strong differences in the mean isotopic signatures of different organs. This has serious implications for interpretation of animal diets and potential use in animal physiology. Furthermore, we present evidence that seasonal variations of metabolism will cause changes in the isotopic composition not related to changes in the diet. Interpretation of isotopic data may require consideration of values from several separate organs. Finally, 15N appears powerful to track metabolite fates in the scallop P. maximus

A volcaniclastic deep-sea fan off La Réunion Island (Indian Ocean): Gradualism versus catastrophism

International audienceA new geophysical data set off La Réunion Island (western Indian Ocean) reveals a large volcaniclastic submarine fan developing in an open-ocean setting. The fan is connected to a torrential river that floods during tropical cyclones. Sediment storage at the coast is limited, suggesting that the sediments are carried directly to the basin. The fan morphology and turbidites in cores lead us to classify it as a sand-rich system mainly fed by hyperpycnal flows. In the ancient geological record, there are many examples of thick volcaniclastic successions, but studies of modern analogues have emphasized mechanisms such as debris avalanches or direct pyroclastic flow into the sea. Because the Cilaos deep-sea fan is isolated from any continental source, it provides information on architecture and noncatastrophic processes in a volcaniclastic deep-sea fan

Searching for the Africa-eurasia Miocene Boundary offshore western algeria (Maradja'03 cruise)

International audienceWe present new results from the MARADJA'03 cruise depicting the geological structures offshore central and western Algeria. Using swath bathymetry and seismic reflection data, we map and discuss the offshore limits of the Internal Zones corresponding to relics of the AlKaPeCa domain that drifted and collided the African plate during the Miocene. We identify large reverse faults and folds that reactivate part of these limits and are still active today. The morphology of the westernmost NE–SW margin suggests a former strike-slip activity accommodating a westward block translation responsible for the shift of the Internal Zones towards the Moroccan Rif. To cite this article: A. Domzig et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006). Nous présentons les résultats récents de la campagne MARADJA'03, qui visent à mettre en évidence les structures géologiques dans le domaine marin au nord-ouest de l'Algérie. Grâce aux données de bathymétrie multifaisceau et de sismique réflexion, nous cartographions et discutons les limites en mer des Zones internes correspondant aux reliques du domaine AlKaPeCa qui a dérivé, puis est entré en collision avec la plaque africaine au Miocène. De grandes failles inverses et plis, actifs dans le champ de contrainte actuel, réactivent certaines de ces limites. La marge ouest-algérienne, orientée NE–SW, indique la présence d'une ancienne activité en décrochement ayant accommodé la translation des Zones internes vers l'ouest