Hall effects in Carroll dynamics

``Do Carroll particles move?'' The answer depends on the characteristics of the particle such as its mass, spin, electric charge, and magnetic moment. A massive Carroll particle (closely related to fractons) does not move; its immobility follows from Carroll boost symmetry which implies dipole conservation, but not conversely. A massless Carroll particle may propagate by following the Hall law, consistently with the partial breaking of the Carroll boost symmetry. The framework is extended to Carroll field theory. In $d=2$ space dimensions, the Carroll group has a two-fold central extension which allows us to generalize the dynamics to massive and massless particles, including anyons. The anyonic spin and magnetic moment combine with the doubly-extended structure parameterized by two Casimir invariants interpreted as intrinsic magnetization and non-commutativity parameter. The extended Carroll particle subjected to an electromagnetic background field moves following a generalized Hall law which includes a Zeeman force. This theory is illustrated by massless, uncharged anyons with doubly-centrally extended structure we call exotic photons, which move on the horizon of a Black Hole, giving rise to an anyonic spin-Hall Effect.Comment: Thoroughly revised and extended version. 120 pages,13 figure

Transfer of carbon dioxide within cultures of microalgae: plain bubbling versus hollow-fiber modules

In attempts to improve the metabolic efficiency in closed photosynthetic reactors, availability of light and CO2 are often considered as limiting factors, as they are difficult to control in a culture. The carbon source is usually provided via bubbling of CO2- enriched air into the culture medium; however, this procedure is not particularly effective in terms of mass transfer. Besides, it leads to considerable waste of that gas to the open atmosphere, which adds to operation costs. Increase in the interfacial area of contact available for gas exchange via use of membranes might be a useful alternative; microporous membranes, in hollow-fiber form, were tested accordingly. Two hollow-fiber modules, different in both hydrophilicity and outer surface area, were tested and duly compared, in terms of mass transfer, versus traditional plain bubbling. Overall volumetric coefficients (KLa) for CO2 transfer were 1.48 10-2 min-1 for the hydrophobic membrane, 1.33 10-2 min-1 for the hydrophilic membrane, and 7.0 10-3 min-1 for plain bubbling. A model microalga, viz. Nannochloropsis sp., was cultivated using the two aforementioned membrane systems and plain bubbling. The produced data showed slight (but hardly significant) increases in biomass productivity when the hollow-fiber devices were used. However, hollow-fiber modules allow recirculation of unused CO2, thus reducing feedstock costs. Furthermore, such indirect way of supplying CO2 offers the additional possibility for use of lower gas pressures, as no need to counterbalance hydrostatic heads exists

Toxicity and Applications of Internalised Magnetite Nanoparticles Within Live Paramecium caudatum Cells

© 2017, The Author(s). The nanotechnology revolution has allowed us to speculate on the possibility of hybridising nanoscale materials with live substrates, yet significant doubt still remains pertaining to the effects of nanomaterials on biological matter. In this investigation, we cultivate the ciliated protistic pond-dwelling microorganism Paramecium caudatum in the presence of excessive quantities of magnetite nanoparticles in order to deduce potential beneficial applications for this technique, as well as observe any deleterious effects on the organisms’ health. Our findings indicate that this variety of nanoparticle is well-tolerated by P. caudatum cells, who were observed to consume them in quantities exceeding 5–12% of their body volume: cultivation in the presence of magnetite nanoparticles does not alter P. caudatum cell volume, swimming speed, growth rate or peak colony density and cultures may persist in nanoparticle-contaminated media for many weeks. We demonstrate that P. caudatum cells ingest starch-coated magnetite nanoparticles which facilitates their being magnetically immobilised whilst maintaining apparently normal ciliary dynamics, thus demonstrating that nanoparticle biohybridisation is a viable alternative to conventional forms of ciliate quieting. Ingested magnetite nanoparticle deposits appear to aggregate, suggesting that (a) the process of being internalised concentrates and may therefore detoxify (i.e. render less reactive) nanomaterial suspensions in aquatic environments, and (b) P. caudatum is a candidate organism for programmable nanomaterial manipulation and delivery

Large bolometer arrays with superconducting NbSi sensors for future space experiments

International audienceNew techniques in microelectronics allow to build large arrays of bolometers filling the focal plane of submillimeter and millimeter telescopes. The expected sensitivity increase is the key for the next generation of space experiments in this wavelength range. Superconducting bolometers offer currently the best prospects in terms of sensitivity and multiplexed readout. We present here the developments led in France based on NbSi alloy thermometers. The manufacturing process of a 23 pixel array and the test setup are described

Habitat properties are key drivers of Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) prevalence in Ixodes ricinus populations of deciduous forest fragments

Background: The tick Ixodes ricinus has considerable impact on the health of humans and other terrestrial animals because it transmits several tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) such as B. burgdorferi (sensu lato), which causes Lyme borreliosis (LB). Small forest patches of agricultural landscapes provide many ecosystem services and also the disservice of LB risk. Biotic interactions and environmental filtering shape tick host communities distinctively between specific regions of Europe, which makes evaluating the dilution effect hypothesis and its influence across various scales challenging. Latitude, macroclimate, landscape and habitat properties drive both hosts and ticks and are comparable metrics across Europe. Therefore, we instead assess these environmental drivers as indicators and determine their respective roles for the prevalence of B. burgdorferi in I. ricinus. Methods: We sampled I. ricinus and measured environmental properties of macroclimate, landscape and habitat quality of forest patches in agricultural landscapes along a European macroclimatic gradient. We used linear mixed models to determine significant drivers and their relative importance for nymphal and adult B. burgdorferi prevalence. We suggest a new prevalence index, which is pool-size independent. Results: During summer months, our prevalence index varied between 0 and 0.4 per forest patch, indicating a low to moderate disservice. Habitat properties exerted a fourfold larger influence on B. burgdorferi prevalence than macroclimate and landscape properties combined. Increasingly available ecotone habitat of focal forest patches diluted and edge density at landscape scale amplified B. burgdorferi prevalence. Indicators of habitat attractiveness for tick hosts (food resources and shelter) were the most important predictors within habitat patches. More diverse and abundant macro- and microhabitat had a diluting effect, as it presumably diversifies the niches for tick-hosts and decreases the probability of contact between ticks and their hosts and hence the transmission likelihood.[br/] Conclusions: Diluting effects of more diverse habitat patches would pose another reason to maintain or restore high biodiversity in forest patches of rural landscapes. We suggest classifying habitat patches by their regulating services as dilution and amplification habitat, which predominantly either decrease or increase B. burgdorferi prevalence at local and landscape scale and hence LB risk. Particular emphasis on promoting LB-diluting properties should be put on the management of those habitats that are frequently used by humans. In the light of these findings, climate change may be of little concern for LB risk at local scales, but this should be evaluated further

Caractérisation en conception générale et détaillée du niveau de risque d’un équipement de travail

Ces travaux s’intègrent dans le cadre d’une thèse réalisée au sein du laboratoire « mixte » INRS - ENSAM.Cette communication présente une nouvelle approche de caractérisation du niveau de risque d’un équipement de travail en phase de conception architecturale et détaillée pour les PME. A partir du paradigme que les phénomènes dangereux peuvent être associés à la présence d’énergie, nous présentons les résultats d’une étude exploratoire qui met en œuvre le Modèle Fonctionnel Energétique (MFE). Après un rappel de ce dernier, nous présenterons son intérêt et ses limites vis-à-vis de notre problématique. Ces travaux s’intègrent dans le cadre d’une thèse réalisée au sein du laboratoire « mixte » INRS - ENSAM.INRS (Institut National de Recherche et de sécurité

Croissance prolongée de la diatomée marine Phaeodactylum tricornutum en milieu contaminé par le chlorure de tributylétain : conséquence sur le biotransfert du polluant

Cette étude consiste à évaluer le biotransfert du tributylétain (TBT) par le filtreur bivalve Mya arenaria, à partir d'une culture semi-continue de la diatomée Phaeodactylum tricornutum exposée à un niveau de contamination n'arrêtant pas sa croissance à long terme. La dose du contaminant employée (100 ng I-1) est de l'ordre de grandeur de celles décelées dans certaines régions contaminées, telles les marinas et les régions portuaires. Dans ces conditions, la culture de P tricornutum a maintenu son équilibre de croissance durant plus de 50 jours. Sa productivité était légèrement inférieure (de 4 %) à celle de la culture témoin (sans contaminant). L'ingestion des diatomées contaminées, sur une période de 90 jours, a entraîné une bioaccumulation de TBT et DBT (dibutylétain) dans la chair du mollusque, atteignant des concentrations respectives de 133 et 128 ng g-1 (poids humide). L'étude suggère que le biotransfert du TBT et du DBT associés à des micro-algues en croissance continue ou semi-continue pourrait constituer un facteur de bioamplification important du biocide en milieu naturel