Eco Global Evaluation: Cross Benefits of Economic and Ecological Evaluation

This paper highlights the complementarities of cost and environmental evaluation in a sustainable approach. Starting with the needs and limits for whole product lifecycle evaluation, this paper begins with the modeling, data capture and performance indicator aspects. In a second step, the information issue, regarding the whole lifecycle of the product is addressed. In order to go further than the economical evaluations/assessment, the value concept (for a product or a service) is discussed. Value could combine functional requirements, cost objectives and environmental impact. Finally, knowledge issues which address the complexity of integrating multi-disciplinary expertise to the whole lifecycle of a product are discussing.EcoSD NetworkEcoSD networ

Economie des entreprises: La gestion des coopératives appréciées par la méthode du surplus

[eng] Cooperative management and the method of surpluses - A previous study showed that the traditional criteria for measuring efficiency are not adapted to an evaluation of cooperative management. The method of surpluses enabling the efficiency of the central unit and its influence on the peripheral units to be evaluated seems to be able to throw a new and more coherent light on cooperative management. [fre] Un premier travail a montré que les critères traditionnels de mesure d'efficacité ne sont pas adaptés à l'appréciation de la gestion des coopératives. La méthode des surplus permettant de prendre en compte l'efficacité de l'unité centrale et l'influence de celle-ci sur les unités périphériques semble en mesure d'éclairer d'un jour nouveau et d'une manière plus cohérente par rapport à ses caractères spécifiques, la gestion des coopératives.

Relation between walking speed and muscle strength is affected by somatosensory loss in multiple sclerosis

Methods: Gait evaluation and isokinetic testing of muscular function were performed in 20 patients with unaided gait (expanded disability status scale < 6). Patients were separated into two groups in relation to the occurrence of somatosensory involvement: pyramidal group (8 patients) and sensory-pyramidal group (12 patients). Ten healthy subjects of similar age, sex, and height constituted a control group to evaluate gait parameters. Results: In the whole patient group, gait speed was reduced and strongly related to hamstring peak torque but not with quadriceps peak torque. The gait speed and peak torques of quadriceps and hamstrings were similar in both groups of patients. However, in the patients with proprioceptive loss there was both a strong correlation between gait speed and hamstring torque and a significant correlation with quadriceps torque. In the pyramidal group there was poor or no correlation. Conclusion: In patients with undifferentiated MS there is some correlation between gait speed and muscle strength. In the case of sensory loss, a higher contribution of both flexor and extensors of the lower limbs was observed, suggesting that muscular compensation occurred in this situation to maintain gait speed. These results are relevant to assess rehabilitation modalities in MS

Non-linear and resonance effects in carbon nanotube structures

International audienceIn this paper, we report on Raman scattering and Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) studies of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and carbon nanotube/conjugated polymers composites. We demonstrate that under SERS conditions we induce an abnormal anti-Stokes Raman emission, that can be interpreted as being due to a "single-beam pumped" Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) effect. We also investigate in detail the anti-Stokes/Stokes (aS/S) intensity ratios of the radial breathing modes (RBMs) of SWNTs as a function of several parameters. From calculations, we show that resonance phenomena mostly explain the aS/S intensity ratio anomalies, but only at low frequencies. In addition, we describe results obtained with polymers like poly(bithiophene) (PBTh) polymerized on carbon nanotube thin films which exhibit also an amplification of its high frequency Raman modes in the anti-Stokes branch, generated by the plasmon excitation of metallic tubes. This phenomenon occurs in several other materials such as composites based on SWNTs and conjugated polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and polyparaphenylene-vinylene (PPV) for modes located around 1500 cm−1

Polycristalline silicon deposited on glass by sub-atmospheric-pressure CVD at high rate

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Facile route to gold-graphene electrodes by exfoliation of natural graphite under electrochemical conditions

International audienceAn original and practical procedure for preparing graphene-modified gold electrodes has been developed by careful control of the electrochemical exfoliation process of natural graphite. Pre-exfoliated (intercalated) graphite is first mechanically deposited onto a gold electrode. A cathodic treatment is then performed in N,N-dimethylformamide containing tetraalkylammonium salts at potential lower than −2 V vs. Ag/AgCl. This erodes the carbon coating through exfoliation of graphite particles. The result of this simple process, as identified by Raman spectroscopy, is a highly stable carbon surface made of graphene sheets, that gives well reproducible voltammetric responses (both in potential and intensity). Confocal Raman microspectrometry demonstrates that the bonded graphene phase consists of either 1 or 3 layers over micron-sized areas of the gold substrate. These layers can then subsequently be used as a trap to fix different organic groups. This easy and highly reproducible process could greatly simplify gold-graphene electrode production in the field of electrochemistry of graphite and its parent compounds. © 2016 Elsevier Lt

Crystal structure and chemical bonding in the mixed anion compound BaSF

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