What are GPs' preferences for financial and non-financial incentives in cancer screening? Evidence for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers

We benefited for this research from grants provided by the French National Institute for Cancer (INCa) (INCA_7014). We would like to thank Dr Diane Skatun, Mary Kilonzo, and the three anonymous reviewers for their useful comments on the paper.Peer reviewedPostprin

Morphogenesis and propagation of complex cracks induced by thermal shocks

We study the genesis and the selective propagation of complex crack networks induced by thermal shock or drying of brittle materials. We use a quasi-static gradient damage model to perform large scale numerical simulations showing that the propagation of fully developed cracks follows Griffith criterion and depends only on the fracture toughness, while crack morphogenesis is driven by the material's internal length. Our numerical simulations feature networks of parallel cracks and selective arrest in two dimensions and hexagonal columnar joints in three dimensions, without any hypotheses on cracks geometry and are in good agreement with available experimental results

From gradient damage laws to Griffith's theory of crack propagation

International audienceThis paper is devoted to the comparison of the evolution of damage governed by a gradient damage model with the evolution of a crack predicted by Griffith's law. The analysis is made in a two-dimensional setting, assuming that damage is concentrated inside thin bands whose width is proportional to the internal length of the material. Taking advantage of the variational formulation based on the three principles of irreversibility, stability and energy balance, one introduces a generalized Rice path integral which contains terms involving the gradient of damage. Assuming that the internal length of the material is small by comparison with the dimension of the body, a separation of scales is achieved. Owing to the energy balance and the stability condition, one first proves some properties of this path integral with respect to the path. Then, one shows that the evolution of the damage zone is governed by Griffith's law, the dissipated surface energy being given by the energy dissipated in the damage process zone

Cohesive model approach to the nucleation and propagation of cracks due to a thermal shock

International audienceThis paper studies the initiation of cohesive cracks in the thermal shock problem through a variational analysis. A two-dimensional semi-infinite slab with an imposed temperature drop on its free surface is considered. Assuming that cracks are periodically distributed and orthogonal to the surface, at short times we show that the optimum is a distribution of infinitely close cohesive cracks. This leads us to introduce a homogenized effective behavior which reveals to be stable for small times, thanks to the irreversibility. At a given loading cracks with a non-cohesive part nucleate. We characterize the periodic array of these macro-cracks between which the micro-cracks remain. Finally, for longer times, the cohesive behavior converges towards that from Griffith's evolution law. Numerical investigations complete and quantify the analytical results

Initiation of a periodic array of cracks in the thermal shock problem: a gradient damage modeling

International audienceThis paper studies the initiation of cracks in the thermal shock problem through the variational analysis of the quasi-static evolution of a gradient damage model. We consider a two-dimensional semi-infinite slab with an imposed temperature drop on its free surface. The damage model is formulated in the framework of the variational theory of rate-independent processes based on the principles of irreversibility, stability and energy balance. In the case of a sufficiently severe shock, we show that damage immediately occurs and that its evolution follows first a fundamental branch without localization. Then it bifurcates into another branch in which damage localization will take place to finally generate cracks. The determination of the time and mode of that bifurcation allows us to explain the periodic distribution of the so-initiated cracks and to calculate the crack spacing in terms of the material and loading parameters. Numerical investigations complete and quantify the analytical results

Modélisation thermodynamique et cinétique de la réduction de l'acide nitrique concentré.

In the process of treatment of spent nuclear fuel, the dissolution step in concentrated nitric acid is essential. These environments of dissolution, very acid and oxidants have a corrosive significant power to the constituent materials of the facilities Industrial (titanium, zirconium, stainless steels). In some very specific cases (areas condensation, media not renewed), reduction of nitric acid can lead to international displacement of the corrosion potential of these steels, resulting in their field transpassif. The passive layer is then dissolved and a phenomenon of intergranular corrosion is generally observed. The acceleration of the reduction of nitric acid is originally from. This phenomenon, but the causes of this acceleration, closely related to the mechanism of reduction are still unclear. The objective of this study is to determine and quantify thebasic steps of the mechanism of reduction of concentrated nitric acid. As a first step, a thermodynamic simulation helped identify themajority species in liquid and gaseous nitric acid of 0,5 solutions phases MOL. L - 20 mol 1. L - 1 at 25 ° C. Some stable compounds such as nitrous acid or dioxide nitrogen, could then be seen as reactive in the mechanism of reduction. Then, an electrochemical experimental study, coupled with analytical techniques (spectroscopies infrared and UV-visible) allowed to speculate on the reactions put into play during the reduction of nitric acid 4 mol. L - 1 at 40 ° C in inert electrode (gold and) Platinum). It appears that the process of reduction depends on the cathodic overvoltage, and three areas of potential were identified. However, some elements of the mechanism could not be identified by the experience. A kinetic modeling of steady state and the impedance was then made for a device to gold disc rotating, in order to raise some uncertainties, discuss and quantify the reduction process. Finally, the application of this kinetic model to the first results of a study electrochemical on steel 304L allowed to discuss if the mechanism proposed on electrode inert is similar on this material.Dans le processus de traitement du combustible nucléaire usé, l’étape de dissolution dans l’acide nitrique concentré est essentielle. Ces milieux de dissolution, très acides et oxydants possèdent un pouvoir corrosif important vis-à-vis des matériaux constitutifs des installations industrielles (titane, zirconium, aciers inoxydables). Dans certains cas très spécifiques (zones de condensation, milieux non renouvelés), la réduction de l’acide nitrique peut entrainer un déplacement du potentiel de corrosion de ces aciers, les entrainant dans leur domaine transpassif. La couche passive se dissout alors et un phénomène de corrosion intergranulaire est généralement observé. L’accélération de la réduction de l’acide nitrique est à l’origine de ce phénomène, mais les causes de cette accélération, étroitement liées au mécanisme de réduction sont encore mal connues. L’objectif de cette étude est de déterminer et quantifier les étapes élémentaires du mécanisme de réduction de l’acide nitrique concentré. Dans un premier temps, une simulation thermodynamique a permis d’identifier les espèces majoritaires dans les phases liquide et gazeuse de solutions d’acide nitrique de 0,5 mol.L-1 à 20 mol.L-1 à 25°C. Certains composés stables, tels que l’acide nitreux ou le dioxyde d’azote, ont alors pu être envisagés comme réactifs dans le mécanisme de réduction. Ensuite, une étude expérimentale électrochimique, couplée à des techniques analytiques (spectroscopies infrarouge et UV-visible) a permis d’émettre des hypothèses sur les réactions mises en jeu lors de la réduction de l’acide nitrique 4 mol.L-1 à 40°C sur électrode inerte (or et platine). Il apparaît alors que le processus de réduction dépend de la surtension cathodique, et trois zones de potentiels ont été identifiées. Cependant, certains éléments du mécanisme n’ont pas pu être identifiés par l’expérience. Une modélisation cinétique de l’état stationnaire et de l’impédance a alors été effectuée pour un dispositif à disque d’or tournant, afin de lever certaines indéterminations, discuter et quantifier le processus de réduction. Enfin, l’application de ce modèle cinétique aux premiers résultats d’une étude électrochimique sur acier 304L a permis de discuter si le mécanisme proposé sur électrode inerte est similaire sur ce matériau

Choice certainty and deliberative thinking in discrete choice experiments : A theoretical and empirical investigation

The Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control (ARCC) is funded by the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute (2015-703549). This paper developed from discussions between Verity Watson and Dean Regier that were funded by the Peter Wall Institute of Advanced Studies, University of British Columbia. Jonathan Sicsic acknowledges funding from the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under REA grant agreement PCOFUND-GA-2013-609102, through the PRESTIGE programme coordinated by Campus France. He also benefited for this research from grants provided by the French National Institute for Cancer (Coordinator: Dr Nora Moumjid). The Health Economics Research Unit is funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Care Directorates. The usual disclaimer applies. We thank Aki Tsuchiya, Nicolas Krucien, Thijs Dekker, and all participants to the 5th workshop on non-market valuation for useful comments on previous drafts of the paper.Peer reviewedPostprin

Débat sur les perspectives économiques à court terme du 29 octobre 2014

Xavier Ragot : Dans le cadre des prévisions de l’OFCE pour 2014 et 2015, dans un premier temps sur la zone euro et le reste du monde, nous vous proposons de donner votre appréciation sur le risque de déflation en zone euro, sur comment vous envisagez la situation des États-Unis et du Royaume-Uni et si vous prévoyez la sortie de crise au Japon. Pensez-vous que la Réserve fédérale et la Banque d’Angleterre vont remonter leurs taux ou seulement mettre un terme au quantitative easing ? Combien de temps va durer l’austérité dans les pays industrialisés et y a-t-il un risque pour les pays émergents ? [Premier paragraphe du débat

Automatic generation of alignments for 3D QSAR analyses

Many 3D QSAR methods require the alignment of the molecules in a dataset, which can require a fair amount of manual effort in deciding upon a rational basis for the superposition. This paper describes the use of FBSS, a pro-ram for field-based similarity searching in chemical databases, for generating such alignments automatically. The CoMFA and CoMSIA experiments with several literature datasets show that the QSAR models resulting from the FBSS alignments are broadly comparable in predictive performance with the models resulting from manual alignments