Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV: Mapping the Milky Way, Nearby Galaxies, and the Distant Universe

We describe the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV (SDSS-IV), a project encompassing three major spectroscopic programs. The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 (APOGEE-2) is observing hundreds of thousands of Milky Way stars at high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratios in the near-infrared. The Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) survey is obtaining spatially resolved spectroscopy for thousands of nearby galaxies (median $z\sim 0.03$). The extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS) is mapping the galaxy, quasar, and neutral gas distributions between $z\sim 0.6$ and 3.5 to constrain cosmology using baryon acoustic oscillations, redshift space distortions, and the shape of the power spectrum. Within eBOSS, we are conducting two major subprograms: the SPectroscopic IDentification of eROSITA Sources (SPIDERS), investigating X-ray AGNs and galaxies in X-ray clusters, and the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS), obtaining spectra of variable sources. All programs use the 2.5 m Sloan Foundation Telescope at the Apache Point Observatory; observations there began in Summer 2014. APOGEE-2 also operates a second near-infrared spectrograph at the 2.5 m du Pont Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, with observations beginning in early 2017. Observations at both facilities are scheduled to continue through 2020. In keeping with previous SDSS policy, SDSS-IV provides regularly scheduled public data releases; the first one, Data Release 13, was made available in 2016 July

Contribution à l’étude thermodynamique et cinétique de la sorption sur des dérives ligneux de phénol en solution

Une étude comparative de la sorption de phénol en solution sur le bois de hêtre initial et le matériau pyrolysé a permis de différencier les phénomènes de transport de ceux relevant de l’adsorption physique proprement dite. La sorption de phénol est fortement limitée en milieu non gonflant du bois par des phénomènes de diffusion dans le réseau microporeux des dérivés ligneux déshydratés

Effects of polyvinyl alcohol on leachability and efficacy of boron wood preservatives against fungal decay and termite attack

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Sustainable wood products development in a bio-refinery perspective: case studies in French Guiana

International audienceFrench Guiana, by its belonging to the Amazon region and the Guiana shield, has very specific environmental and social characteristics in the French regional ensemble. In this context, it is thus necessary to find how to reconcile the economic development of the territory, the conservation of biodiversity and the recognition of local knowledge and practices. Bringing together multidisciplinary skills contributes to the discovery of original and applied solutions to local issues and challenges, based on local resources. The research projects presented here aim to develop more integrated approaches regarding the different scientific and technical issues related to endogenous natural resources, notably forest biomass and wood products, and their valorization in the Guianese socio-ecosystem. They exemplify the search for new perspectives based on the bio-refinery concept, through innovative uses of wood, new sustainable construction materials from ligno-cellulosic and plant resources, or functionalities of molecules from durable woods. The objective is to promote the sustainable development of innovative products, and to ensure an optimal diversification of forestry resources. In the longer term, they intend to contribute to the identification of new promising sectors to stimulate in the endogenous economy of French Guiana in the context of a circular economy

Évaluation des esters méthyliques de tournesol isomérisés comme substitut de solvants (COV) dans le domaine des peintures et vernis et assimilés

L’étude a été consacrée à l’évaluation des performances techniques d’esters méthyliques isomérisés dans des applications ciblées de l’industrie des peintures et vernis où les solvants à remplacer sont des composés organiques volatils en grandes proportions, ce sont : les lasures (55 à 65 %), les vernis (45 à 55 %), les peintures laquées (35 à 40 %), les peintures satinées (40 à 45 %) et les peintures anticorrosion (30 à 40 % de COV). Les esters méthyliques étudiés sont : -- les esters méthyliques de tournesol classique isomérisés cis-trans, -- les esters méthyliques de tournesol classique isomérisés trans-trans. Les résultats de cette étude ont démontré que les esters méthyliques conjugués de tournesol classique peuvent remplacer les solvants organiques volatils (white spirit par exemple) des peintures murales (brillantes et satinées) et des lasures. Ces esters jouent non seulement le rôle de solvant mais aussi celui d’un réactif de siccativation. En effet, ils participent à la formation du film de peinture ou de lasure au cours du séchage. En formulation de vernis et de lasures, les résultats montrent qu’il est possible d’incorporer des taux d’esters méthyliques de tournesol conjugués à hauteur de 10 %, ce qui permet de ramener le taux de COV de 550-650 g\\l à moins de 400 g\\l. En formulation de peintures laquées, la performance des esters méthyliques dépend non seulement du type de laque étudiée « brillante » ou « satinée » et surtout du système résine\\ETI (Esters de Tournesol Isomérisés). Les esters méthyliques conjugués peuvent être utilisés plus favorablement dans les laques brillantes, jusqu’à une concentration de 2,5 % en substitution des solvants hydrocarbonés habituels (white spirit D40 ou D60). Ils permettent dans ce cas d’augmenter sensiblement l’extrait sec, tout en restant conforme aux objectifs fixés par le CEPE pour les peintures (COV <\; 300 g\\l). Cependant, les esters méthyliques conjugués de tournesol classique ont encore quelques lacunes par rapport aux solvants conventionnels. La durée de séchage est longue, la dureté pendulaire est faible et un phénomène marqué de jaunissement. Ces faiblesses sont liées au pouvoir siccatif encore insuffisant des esters. Ce manque de réactivité peut être amélioré en modifiant les formulations actuelles des résines glycérophtaliques qui aujourd’hui ne permettent pas de faire réagir rapidement et complètement les esters conjugués avec celles-ci

From wood protection to health protection: larvicidal potential of formulations containing Sextonia rubra wood residues extract against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

International audienceFrench Guiana is a French overseas territory almost entirely covered by Amazonian rainforest and characterized by its incredible biodiversity. Several woody species harboured by this tropical forest are exploited sustainably for timber industry. They are commercialized notably for carpentry and outdoor applications because of their remarkable natural durability. Among them, stand Dicorynia guianensis Amshoff (Angélique), Qualea rosea Aubl. (Gonfolo rose), Ruizterania albiflora (Warm.) Marc.-Berti (Gonfolo gris) and Sextonia rubra Mez. Van der Werff (Grignon franc), representing around 80% of the global exploitation volume.This industry however generates large volumes of wastes, in particular because more than 50% of the ligneous material are lost between cutting down and sawing. Moreover, the strong demographic growth (around 2.5% per year) in French Guiana will lead to a notable increase of the need for timber, in construction as well as for energy, and the amount of induced wood wastes will increase concurrently. Sawdust residues are used currently only for biomass energy factories, but owing to the presence of molecules displaying interesting biological properties, wood residues and sawdust definitively deserve more attention. In recent years, a rising interest in value-added forest products, and in particular wood extractives, has indeed been observed, with the aim of reducing the lost generated by the forest industry due to undervalorized biomass components (Royer et al., 2013a; Khan et al., 2014; Borges et al., 2019). It is therefore relevant to integrate a new step in forest resources valorisation, putting the bio-refinery concept into practice (Royer et al., 2013b). In fact, regarding their longevity, trees have developed a wide range of chemical defense mechanisms in several organs (leaves, roots, bark, stem) in response to biotic and abiotic stress. The study of these particular traits alongside with morphological and physiological traits and life history parameters is crucial to understand the mechanisms that support numerous ecological processes (Chave et al., 2009). Wood notably provides the tree mechanical strength as well as storage and conduction capacity, alongside with resistance to decay and pathogens or insects attacks. Compounds produced during heartwood formation, a complex process characterized by the programmed death of parenchyma cells in the transition zone and accompanied by high enzymatic activities generating many specialized metabolites from carbohydrate sources stored in the sapwood, are indeed widely acknowledged as one of the most important passive defense mechanisms of the tree. As they are therefore fundamental for species ecological success, but also present the greatest interest for manhood, wood specialized metabolites extensive study should be clearly promoted. They could in particular inspire the search for novel botanical insecticides (Miresmailli and Isman, 2014). As French Guiana faces severe issues linked to insects, notably the strong incidence of vector-borne infectious diseases such as dengue, zika virus or chikungunya, and as vector control remains an important, if not the sole tool to fight diseases spread, we decided to intensify our research on wood extractives and their ability to control the mosquito Aedes aegypti. In previous studies, we identified Sextonia rubra (Mez) Van der Werff (Lauraceae) as a species of particular interest (Falkowski et al. 2016; 2020). This tropical tree is a rather frequent species in the Guyanas, Venezuela and Amazonian Brazil from the Atlantic coast to Manaus and the featured long lasting heartwood drives the wide exploitation of this species in French Guiana forest industry. S. rubra heartwood is indeed known to possess strongly defensive compounds, the two γ-lactones rubrenolide and rubrynolide, exhibiting activities against lignivorous fungi and termites and representing around 50% of heartwood extractives (Rodrigues et al., 2011; Houël et al., 2017). Interestingly, S. rubra wood extract and molecules were also strongly insecticidal when tested against mosquito larvae of the vector Ae. aegypti. Considering this strong bioactivity, some members of our group (WO2016046489A1) filed a patent and a new research project entitled “SextoniAedes” and funded by the European Regional Development (ERDF) is currently ongoing to build upon this discovery.In this project, we aim at gaining inspiration from wood protection on a wide meaning to develop innovative solutions to protect human health. On the one side, we will investigate S. rubra wood extractives, naturally protecting the tree tissue against insects and pathogens attacks, to develop novel botanical insecticides to fight against the mosquito Ae. aegypti, responsible for the spread of numerous pathogens. On the other side, we will propose aqueous-based formulations of S. rubra extract, influenced by the wood protection industry and more particularly the advances observed in green chemistry. We will test these formulations in semi-operational conditions to evaluate their larvicidal activity and remanence under tropical conditions. Moreover, we will concurrently evaluate eco- and cytotoxity of the extract and formulation in accordance to current regulations. Indeed heartwood metabolites, acting as defensive compounds, can be highly toxic molecules. Therefore, its safety for potential users and selectivity against non-targeted organisms has to be carefully tested.In this context, the “SextoniAedes” project aims to study S. rubra defensive heartwood molecules to inspire economically valuable and environmentally friendly solutions for vector control, and set up the valorization of forest extractives from durable wood species in a circular economy approach. This valorization would constitute a link between the wood industry and the biomass energy sector, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of wastage products from forest industry. At the same time, this project wants to promote opportunities related to green technology or green innovation. Through concepts such as bio-inspiration or bio-refinery, durable trees give us the potential to inspire scientific innovation and stimulate economic sectors, in a sustainable development context, supporting the ambition to strive for a development model that is fair, and respectful of people and natural resources

Évaluation des esters méthyliques de tournesol isomérisés comme substitut de solvants (COV) dans le domaine des peintures et vernis et assimilés

L’étude a été consacrée à l’évaluation des performances techniques d’esters méthyliques isomérisés dans des applications ciblées de l’industrie des peintures et vernis où les solvants à remplacer sont des composés organiques volatils en grandes proportions, ce sont : les lasures (55 à 65 %), les vernis (45 à 55 %), les peintures laquées (35 à 40 %), les peintures satinées (40 à 45 %) et les peintures anticorrosion (30 à 40 % de COV). Les esters méthyliques étudiés sont : -- les esters méthyliques de tournesol classique isomérisés cis-trans, -- les esters méthyliques de tournesol classique isomérisés trans-trans. Les résultats de cette étude ont démontré que les esters méthyliques conjugués de tournesol classique peuvent remplacer les solvants organiques volatils (white spirit par exemple) des peintures murales (brillantes et satinées) et des lasures. Ces esters jouent non seulement le rôle de solvant mais aussi celui d’un réactif de siccativation. En effet, ils participent à la formation du film de peinture ou de lasure au cours du séchage. En formulation de vernis et de lasures, les résultats montrent qu’il est possible d’incorporer des taux d’esters méthyliques de tournesol conjugués à hauteur de 10 %, ce qui permet de ramener le taux de COV de 550-650 g\\l à moins de 400 g\\l. En formulation de peintures laquées, la performance des esters méthyliques dépend non seulement du type de laque étudiée « brillante » ou « satinée » et surtout du système résine\\ETI (Esters de Tournesol Isomérisés). Les esters méthyliques conjugués peuvent être utilisés plus favorablement dans les laques brillantes, jusqu’à une concentration de 2,5 % en substitution des solvants hydrocarbonés habituels (white spirit D40 ou D60). Ils permettent dans ce cas d’augmenter sensiblement l’extrait sec, tout en restant conforme aux objectifs fixés par le CEPE pour les peintures (COV <\; 300 g\\l). Cependant, les esters méthyliques conjugués de tournesol classique ont encore quelques lacunes par rapport aux solvants conventionnels. La durée de séchage est longue, la dureté pendulaire est faible et un phénomène marqué de jaunissement. Ces faiblesses sont liées au pouvoir siccatif encore insuffisant des esters. Ce manque de réactivité peut être amélioré en modifiant les formulations actuelles des résines glycérophtaliques qui aujourd’hui ne permettent pas de faire réagir rapidement et complètement les esters conjugués avec celles-ci