Design and sizing of electromagnetic linear actuators for valve applications

International audienceIn this paper, various structures of linear motion actuators are described. These structures have been studied in order to drive the valves of a car motor. According to general specifications, a description of the design and sizing of variable reluctance or permanent magnet devices is given. The main qualities of each structure are enhanced

OPTIMISATION OF A DRIVE SYSTEM AND ITS EPICYCLIC GEAR SET

International audienceThis paper describes the design of a drive consisting of a DC motor, a speed reducer, a lead screw transformation system, a power converter and its associated DC source. The objective is to reduce the mass of the system. Indeed, the volume and weight optimisation of an electrical drive is an important issue for embedded applications. Here, we present an analytical model of the system in a specific application and afterwards an optimisation of the motor and speed reducer main dimensions and the battery voltage in order to reduce the weight

Multi objective optimisation of an electromagnetic valve actuator

International audienceThis paper is about a modelling and an optimisation of an electromechanical drive system. The device consists of a DC source, a power converter, a linear actuator and its load. The aim of the system is to drive a load along a linear displacement. The two main objectives are to reduce the actuator volume and the copper losses, which are contrary objectives. Here, we present an analytical modelling of the system and afterwards an optimisation of the linear actuator main dimensions in order to carry out the previous objectives

Isopod trackways from the Crayssac Lagerstätte, upper Jurassic, France

International audienceWell-preserved arthropod trackways are described from the laminated limestones of the Crayssac Lagerstätte (south-west France, Lower Tithonian). They occur in sediments deposited in the temporary coastal mudflats of intertidal to supratidal zones. The trackways are referred to Pterichnus isopodicus isp. nov., and are interpreted as the locomotion traces of isopods. Different trackway morphotypes are recognized and clearly resulted from variations in the original consistency of the sediment. Sinuous trackways may correspond to vagrant activity on wet mud whereas numerous straight ones indicate a more rapid crawling on a soft-to-firm substratum (e.g. tidal flat during emersion). The preferred orientation of trackways indicates that isopods were crawling in a direction perpendicular to shoreline as a result of possible taxis induced by sediment wetness and ⁄ or by a migratory behaviour controlled by tidal rhythm. Unusually long emergence of the sediments may have favoured the preservation of dense networks of trackways. An isopod identity is supported by the general morphology of the tracks and the association of trackways with isopod body fossils. Archaeoniscus, which occurs abundantly in Late Jurassic deposit

Synergistic influence of topomimetic and chondroitin sulfate-based treatments on osteogenic potential of Ti-6Al-4V

International audienceWe combined topographical and chemical surface modifications of Ti-6Al-4V (TA6V) to improve its osteogenic potential. By acid-etching, we first generated topomimetic surface features resembling, in size and roughness, bone cavities left by osteoclasts. Next, we coated these surfaces with biomimetic Layer-by-Layer films (LbL), composed of chon-droitin sulfate A and poly-L-lysine that were mechanically tuned after a post-treatment with genipin. The structural impact of each surface processing step was thoroughly inspected. The desired nano/microrough topographies of TA6V were maintained upon LbL deposition. Whereas no significant promotion of adhesion and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts were detected after independent or combined modifications of the topography and the chemical composition of the substrates, osteogenic maturation was promoted when both surface treatments were combined, as was evi-denced by significant long-term matrix mineralization. The results open promising route toward improved osseointegra-tion of titanium-based implants. V C 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 00B:000-000, 2016

Impact of age, leukocyte count and day 21-bone marrow response to chemotherapy on the long-term outcome of children with philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the pre-imatinib era: results of the FRALLE 93 study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We explored the heterogeneity of philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph1-ALL) in a study of the effect of early features on prognosis in children. Here we report the long-term results of the FRALLE 93 study conducted in the era before the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between 1993 and 1999, 36 children with Ph1-ALL were enrolled into the FRALLE 93 protocol. After conventional four-drug induction, children were stratified by availability of an HLA-matched sibling.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Complete remission (CR) was observed in 26 children (72%), of which 13 underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Thirty-one children were good responders to prednisone, defined on day 8, and 21 were good responders to chemotherapy, defined by day-21 bone marrow (M1). Overall five-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 42 ± 9.7%. Based on multivariate analysis, two groups showed marked differences in five-year outcome: children with age<10, leukocyte count <100,000/mm³and day-21 M1 marrow had a more favorable prognosis (14 pts: 100% CR, event free survival [EFS]: 57%, overall survival [OS]: 79%), than the high-risk group (22 patients: 55% CR, EFS: 18%, OS: 27%) (p < 0.005). We also observed a non statistically significant difference (p = 0.14) in outcome between these groups for transplanted patients (5-year DFS: 83 ± 14% and 33 ± 15%, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Age, leukocyte count and early response to treatment defined by the D21 bone marrow response provide an accurate model for outcome prediction. The combination of available tools such as minimal residual disease assessment with determination of these simple factors could be useful for refining indications for BMT in the current era of tyrosine-kinase inhibitor-based therapy.</p

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field