The use of Lorentz microscopy for the determination of magnetic reversal mechanism of exchange-biased Co30Fe70/NiMn bilayer

Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM) combined with in-situ magnetizing experiments is a powerful tool for the investigation of the magnetization of the reversal process at the micron scale. We have implemented this tool on a conventional transmission electron microscope (TEM) to study the exchange anisotropy of a polycrystalline Co35Fe65/NiMn bilayer. Semi-quantitative maps of the magnetic induction were obtained at different field values by the differential phase contrast (DPC) technique adapted for a TEM (SIDPC). The hysteresis loop of the bilayer has been calculated from the relative intensity of magnetic maps. The curve shows the appearance of an exchange-bias field reveals with two distinct reversal modes of the magnetization: the first path corresponds to a reversal by wall propagation when the applied field is parallel to the anisotropy direction whereas the second is a reversal by coherent rotation of magnetic moments when the field is applied antiparallel to unidirectional anisotropy direction

Measuring fish activities as additional environmental data during a hydrographic survey with a multi-beam echo sounder

International audienceThe modern multi-beam echo sounders (MBES) are advanced instrumentation for active underwater acoustic surveys that can be boarded on oceanic vessels as well on light crafts. Although their versatility allows scientists to perform various environmental studies, their potential is seldom fully exploited. A single data acquisition cruise is not only able to display the seabed backscatter, but also provide an estimation of the fish activities from an underwater site thanks to water column imagery. This work is aiming at developing some (automatic) signal processing techniques to detect, analyse and classify objects observed in the water column with a focus on fish activities to provide fish accumulation and classification but also some comparative analyses along with the seafloor classification

Radial velocities, dynamics of stars and nebulosities with GAIA and VLT-GIRAFFE

Proceedings GSD2008 conference, submitted to ANThis document is divided in two parts. The first part deals with the radial velocities (RV) distributions for B-type stars and nebulosities observed with the VLT-GIRAFFE in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds towards the open clusters NGC2004 and NGC330. Thanks to the resolution of GIRAFFE spectra, we found that the RV distribution for the nebulosities in the LMC is bi-modal. This bi-modality can be interpreted, in term of dynamics, by the expansion of the LMC4 superbubble. The second part deals with the GAIA space mission and the determination of the radial velocities by using Radial Velocity Spectrometer (RVS) spectra. The methods to determine the radial velocities are presented as well as preliminary results on simulated RVS spectra

Long-term evolution (1988-2008) of Zostera spp. meadows in Arcachon Bay (Bay of Biscay)

The spatial variability of seagrass meadows in Arcachon Bay, was studied between 1988 and 2008 using a combination of mapping techniques based on aerial photographs for intertidal dwarf-grass (Zostera noltti) beds and acoustic sonar for permanently submerged eelgrass (Zostera marina) populations. The results show a severe decline over the period for both species, as well as an acceleration of the decline since 2005 for Z. noltii. The total surface regression over the studied period is estimated to be 22.8 km(2) for Z. noltii and 2.7 km(2) for Z. marina, which represent declines of 33 and 74% respectively. Environmental data time series spanning the same period were investigated in order to seek the causes for such a decline. The calculated inter-annual trends for temperature, salinity, nitrate plus nitrite, ammonia, suspended sediment and chlorophyll a did not identify any clear environmental change capable of explaining the observed seagrass regression. For instance, no evident sign of eutrophication was observed over the study period. On the other hand, we suggest that the observed variations of ammonia in the inner part of the lagoon are a symptom of the seagrasses' disappearance and thus, a first sign indicating a change of the Arcachon Bay ecosystem towards more instability and vulnerability. Several hypotheses to explain the observed seagrass decay are proposed. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Predicting Venous Thromboembolic Events in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Requiring Hospitalization: an Observational Retrospective Study by the COVIDIC Initiative in a Swiss University Hospital.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can result in profound changes in blood coagulation. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and predictors of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) among patients with COVID-19 requiring hospital admission. Subjects and Methods. We performed a retrospective study at the Lausanne University Hospital with patients admitted because of COVID-19 from February 28 to April 30, 2020. Among 443 patients with COVID-19, VTE was diagnosed in 41 patients (9.3%; 27 pulmonary embolisms, 12 deep vein thrombosis, one pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, one portal vein thrombosis). VTE was diagnosed already upon admission in 14 (34.1%) patients and 27 (65.9%) during hospital stay (18 in ICU and nine in wards outside the ICU). Multivariate analysis revealed D-dimer value > 3,120 ng/ml (P < 0.001; OR 15.8, 95% CI 4.7-52.9) and duration of 8 days or more from COVID-19 symptoms onset to presentation (P 0.020; OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.3-18.3) to be independently associated with VTE upon admission. D-dimer value ≥ 3,000 ng/l combined with a Wells score for PE ≥ 2 was highly specific (sensitivity 57.1%, specificity 91.6%) in detecting VTE upon admission. Development of VTE during hospitalization was independently associated with D-dimer value > 5,611 ng/ml (P < 0.001; OR 6.3, 95% CI 2.4-16.2) and mechanical ventilation (P < 0.001; OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.3-15.1). VTE seems to be a common COVID-19 complication upon admission and during hospitalization, especially in ICU. The combination of Wells ≥ 2 score and D - dimer ≥ 3,000 ng/l is a good predictor of VTE at admission

EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: 2016 update

Recent insights in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) necessitated updating the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) RA management recommendations. A large international Task Force based decisions on evidence from 3 systematic literature reviews, developing 4 overarching principles and 12 recommendations (vs 3 and 14, respectively, in 2013). The recommendations address conventional synthetic (cs) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (methotrexate (MTX), leflunomide, sulfasalazine); glucocorticoids (GC); biological (b) DMARDs (tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-inhibitors (adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab), abatacept, rituximab, tocilizumab, clazakizumab, sarilumab and sirukumab and biosimilar (bs) DMARDs) and targeted synthetic (ts) DMARDs (Janus kinase (Jak) inhibitors tofacitinib, baricitinib). Monotherapy, combination therapy, treatment strategies (treat-to-target) and the targets of sustained clinical remission (as defined by the American College of Rheumatology-(ACR)-EULAR Boolean or index criteria) or low disease activity are discussed. Cost aspects were taken into consideration. As first strategy, the Task Force recommends MTX (rapid escalation to 25 mg/week) plus short-term GC, aiming at >50% improvement within 3 and target attainment within 6 months. If this fails stratification is recommended. Without unfavourable prognostic markers, switching to—or adding—another csDMARDs (plus short-term GC) is suggested. In the presence of unfavourable prognostic markers (autoantibodies, high disease activity, early erosions, failure of 2 csDMARDs), any bDMARD (current practice) or Jak-inhibitor should be added to the csDMARD. If this fails, any other bDMARD or tsDMARD is recommended. If a patient is in sustained remission, bDMARDs can be tapered. For each recommendation, levels of evidence and Task Force agreement are provided, both mostly very high. These recommendations intend informing rheumatologists, patients, national rheumatology societies, hospital officials, social security agencies and regulators about EULAR's most recent consensus on the management of RA, aimed at attaining best outcomes with current therapies

Inversion géoacoustique temps réel de signaux large bande par grands fonds

This thesis describes the development of a real time geoacoustic inversion method devoted to broad band signals. Aim of this method is to automatically infer geoacoustic bottom characteristics from transmission sound field pressure measurements in a deep ocean medium. Finality is to inform sonar operational team about the parameters of the bottom, so that it can improve the performance evaluation of their acoustic sensors. This work provides useful experience for the design of the future prototype of acoustic REA (Rapid Environment Assestnent). Validation of the concept takes place in this thesis after the implementation of a global step of inversion based on the matching of transmission measured impulse responses and the impulse responses simulated by a ray model able to take into account bottom parameters. Two stages of inversion are necessary. A first one to find the experimental configuration, then another one to determine bottom characteristics. This inversion method is applied in a quasi-automated way to a complex synthetic data set, generated by a real time simulator of the acoustic transmitted signal. Tests on synthetic data set first validate the feasibility of the method and its performances in term of detection of a horizontal transition of the porosity, and in respect of the operational time consuming constraint. It allows to describe also Doppler effect impact on the inversion performances. The method is then successfully tested on acoustic and environmental data set recorded by the Military Center of Oceanography of the EPSHOM in deep water, unfavourable case for the inversion because of the weak informative contents of the signals. The taking into account of a bottom evolutive model in the method of inversion makes it possible to reverse an evolutive medium (with the distance) and to synthesize all the inversion results of atypical campaign of REA.Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire visent à développer une méthode globale d'inversion des paramètres géoacoustiques par grands fonds, dans le cadre du REA (Rapid Environmental Assesment ; Evaluation Rapide de l'Environnement)) acoustique opérationnel. La méthode développée utilise du Matched Impulse Response de signaux large bande. La finalité est de renseigner les sonaristes opérationnels du domaine de la lutte anti sous-marine sur les paramètres du fond, afin qu'il puissent améliorer l'évaluation des performances de leurs senseurs acoustiques. Ces travaux doivent fournir des enseignements utiles à la conception du prototype ftitur de REA acoustique STEREO de l'EPSHOM/CMO. La validation du concept s'opère dans cette thèse après la mise en place d'une démarche globale d'inversion basée sur l'ajustement des réponses impulsionnelles mesurées en transmission et des réponses irnpulsionnelles simulées par un modèle prenant en compte les paramètres du fond. Deux étapes d'inversion sont nécessaires visant à retrouver d'une part la configuration expérimentale puis ensuite les caractéristiques de la nature du fond. La méthode d'inversion développée est appliquée de façon quasi-automatisée à un jeu de données synthétiques complexes, élaborées à partir d'un simulateur temps réel de la propagation acoustique. Les essais sur données synthétiques permettent tout d'abord de valider la faisabilité de la méthode quant à ses performances de détection d'une transition horizontale de la porosité, et quant au respect de la contrainte opérationnelle du délai d'estimation. Ils permettent de qualifier de plus l'impact de l'effet Doppler sur les performances de l'inversion. Celle-ci est ensuite testée sur un jeu de données acoustiques et environnementales réelles mis à disposition par le Centre Militaire d'Océanographie de l'EPSHOM. Ces données correspondent à la campagne de REA HERACLES qui a eu lieu par grands fonds, cas défavorable pour l'inversion en raison du faible contenu informatif des signaux. La prise en compte d'un modèle numérique de terrain dans la méthode d'inversion permet de d'inverser un milieu évolutif avec la distance et de synthétiser l'ensemble des résultats de l'inversion des données d'une campagne typique de REA. Ces travaux permettent de dégager des configurations pour lesquelles l'inversion peut fonctionner en temps réel, ce qui valorise le principe de la méthode développée et les développements réalisés

An expeditious route to cis-Ru(bpy)2C12 (bpy=2,2′-bipyridine) using carbohydrates as reducers

International audienceThe tandem use of simple mono- or disaccharides and vitamin C as organic reducers allows the synthesis of the widely used starting material cis-Ru(bpy)2Cl2 (where bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) from commercial ruthenium (III) chloride in less than half an hour. Notably, the reaction can be run in organic aqueous solvent or in only water, hence it can be adapted to substituted 2,2′-bipyridines

Inversion géoacoustique temps réel de signaux large bande par grands fonds

Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire visent à développer une méthode globale d'inversion des paramètres géoacoustiques par grands fonds, dans le cadre du REA (Rapid Environmental Assesment ; Evaluation Rapide de l'Environnement)) acoustique opérationnel. La méthode développée utilise du Matched Impulse Response de signaux large bande. La finalité est de renseigner les sonaristes opérationnels du domaine de la lutte anti sous-marine sur les paramètres du fond, afin qu'il puissent améliorer l'évaluation des performances de leurs senseurs acoustiques. Ces travaux doivent fournir des enseignements utiles à la conception du prototype ftitur de REA acoustique STEREO de l'EPSHOM/CMO. La validation du concept s'opère dans cette thèse après la mise en place d'une démarche globale d'inversion basée sur l'ajustement des réponses impulsionnelles mesurées en transmission et des réponses irnpulsionnelles simulées par un modèle prenant en compte les paramètres du fond. Deux étapes d'inversion sont nécessaires visant à retrouver d'une part la configuration expérimentale puis ensuite les caractéristiques de la nature du fond. La méthode d'inversion développée est appliquée de façon quasi-automatisée à un jeu de données synthétiques complexes, élaborées à partir d'un simulateur temps réel de la propagation acoustique. Les essais sur données synthétiques permettent tout d'abord de valider la faisabilité de la méthode quant à ses performances de détection d'une transition horizontale de la porosité, et quant au respect de la contrainte opérationnelle du délai d'estimation. Ils permettent de qualifier de plus l'impact de l'effet Doppler sur les performances de l'inversion. Celle-ci est ensuite testée sur un jeu de données acoustiques et environnementales réelles mis à disposition par le Centre Militaire d'Océanographie de l'EPSHOM. Ces données correspondent à la campagne de REA HERACLES qui a eu lieu par grands fonds, cas défavorable pour l'inversion en raison du faible contenu informatif des signaux. La prise en compte d'un modèle numérique de terrain dans la méthode d'inversion permet de d'inverser un milieu évolutif avec la distance et de synthétiser l'ensemble des résultats de l'inversion des données d'une campagne typique de REA. Ces travaux permettent de dégager des configurations pour lesquelles l'inversion peut fonctionner en temps réel, ce qui valorise le principe de la méthode développée et les développements réalisés.This thesis describes the development of a real time geoacoustic inversion method devoted to broad band signals. Aim of this method is to automatically infer geoacoustic bottom characteristics from transmission sound field pressure measurements in a deep ocean medium. Finality is to inform sonar operational team about the parameters of the bottom, so that it can improve the performance evaluation of their acoustic sensors. This work provides useful experience for the design of the future prototype of acoustic REA (Rapid Environment Assestnent). Validation of the concept takes place in this thesis after the implementation of a global step of inversion based on the matching of transmission measured impulse responses and the impulse responses simulated by a ray model able to take into account bottom parameters. Two stages of inversion are necessary. A first one to find the experimental configuration, then another one to determine bottom characteristics. This inversion method is applied in a quasi-automated way to a complex synthetic data set, generated by a real time simulator of the acoustic transmitted signal. Tests on synthetic data set first validate the feasibility of the method and its performances in term of detection of a horizontal transition of the porosity, and in respect of the operational time consuming constraint. It allows to describe also Doppler effect impact on the inversion performances. The method is then successfully tested on acoustic and environmental data set recorded by the Military Center of Oceanography of the EPSHOM in deep water, unfavourable case for the inversion because of the weak informative contents of the signals. The taking into account of a bottom evolutive model in the method of inversion makes it possible to reverse an evolutive medium (with the distance) and to synthesize all the inversion results of atypical campaign of REA.TOULON-BU Centrale (830622101) / SudocSudocFranceF