Business strategy and the environment in a traditional manufacturing sector

This research is concerned with the relationship between business strategy and the environment within traditional sectors. It has sought to learn more about the strategic environmental attitudes of SMEs compared with large companies operating under the same market conditions. The sector studied is the ceramics industry (including tableware & ornamental-ware, sanitary ware & tiles, bricks, industrial & advanced ceramics and refractories) in the UK and France. Unlike the automotive, oil, chemical, steel or metal processing sectors, this industry is one of the few industrial sectors which has rarely been considered. The information on this sector was gathered by interviewing people responsible for environmental issues. The actual programme of valid interviews represents approximately a quarter of the UK and French ceramics industry which is large enough to enable a quantitative analysis and significant and non-biased conclusions. As a whole, all companies surveyed agreed that the ceramics activity impacts on the environment, and that they are increasingly affected both by environmental legislation, and by various non-legislative pressures. Approaches to the environmental agenda differ significantly among large and small companies. Smaller companies feel particularly pressed both by the financial costs and management time required to meet complex and changing legislation. The results of this survey also suggest that the ceramics industry sees environmental issues in terms of increased costs rather than new business opportunities. This is due principally to fears of import substitution from countries with lower environmental standards. Finally, replies indicate that generally there is a low level of awareness of the current legislative framework, suggesting a need to shift from a regulatory approach to a more self-regulated approach which encourages companies to be more proactiv

Review and classification of vision-based localisation techniques in unknown environments

International audienceThis study presents a review of the state-of-the-art and a novel classification of current vision-based localisation techniques in unknown environments. Indeed, because of progresses made in computer vision, it is now possible to consider vision-based systems as promising navigation means that can complement traditional navigation sensors like global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs) and inertial navigation systems. This study aims to review techniques employing a camera as a localisation sensor, provide a classification of techniques and introduce schemes that exploit the use of video information within a multi-sensor system. In fact, a general model is needed to better compare existing techniques in order to decide which approach is appropriate and which are the innovation axes. In addition, existing classifications only consider techniques based on vision as a standalone tool and do not consider video as a sensor among others. The focus is addressed to scenarios where no a priori knowledge of the environment is provided. In fact, these scenarios are the most challenging since the system has to cope with objects as they appear in the scene without any prior information about their expected position

Solution Structure of Human p8 MTCP1 , a Cysteine-rich Protein Encoded by the MTCP1 Oncogene, Reveals a New a a a-Helical Assembly Motif

International audienceMature-T-Cell Proliferation) is the ®rst gene unequivocally identi®ed in the group of uncommon leukemias with a mature phenotype. The three-dimensional solution structure of the human p8 MTCP1 protein encoded by the MTCP1 oncogene was determined by homonuc-lear proton two-dimensional NMR methods at 600 MHz. After sequence speci®c assignments, a total of 931 distance restraints and 57 dihedral restraints were collected. The location of the three previously unassigned disul®de bridges was determined from preliminary DIANA structures, using a statistical analysis of intercystinyl distances. The solution structure of p8 MTCP1 is presented as a set of 30 DIANA structures, further re®ned by restrained molecular dynamics using a simulated annealing protocol with the AMBER force ®eld. The r.m.s.d. values with respect to the mean structure for the backbone and all heavy atoms for a family of 30 structures are 0.73(AE0.28) and 1.17(AE0.23) A Ê , when the structured core of the protein (residues 5 to 63) is considered. The solution structure of p8 MTCP1 reveals an original scaffold consisting of three a helices, associated with a new cysteine motif. Two of the helices are covalently paired by two disul®de bridges, forming an a-hairpin which resembles an antiparallel coiled-coil. The third helix is oriented roughly parallel to the plane de®ned by the a-antiparallel motif and its axis forms an angle of %60 with respect to the main axis of this motif

Loups, chiens et sociétés du Paléolithique supérieur

Le processus de domestication du loup vraisemblablement initié au cours du Paléolithique supérieur, pose aujourd’hui encore de nombreuses questions en termes notamment d’ancienneté du phénomène et de sa diffusion au sein des différents groupes de chasseurs-cueilleurs se succédant au cours de cette période. Pour tenter d’apporter de nouveaux éléments de discussion, de nouvelles analyses pluridisciplinaires ont récemment été entreprises sur la Grotte Maldidier, l’Abri Pataud, l’Abri du Morin, l’Abri Mège, Rochereil, la Grotte-Abri du Moulin à Troubat et le Pont d’Ambon. Ce travail, à visée diachronique, permet de lancer une discussion concernant le statut sauvage ou domestique des grands Canidés dans ces contextes et plus généralement dans les séries du Paléolithique supérieur du Sud-Ouest de la France. Pour cette analyse, nous avons notamment croisé biométrie et archéozoologie. Les données biométriques obtenues à partir des restes de Canidés participent à la diagnose taxinomique. Les études archéozoologique et taphonomique de l’ensemble des vestiges fauniques associés à ces restes permettent quant à elle de documenter la prédation humaine et animale. L’ensemble de ces données nous permet donc de contextualiser la mise en place de cette innovation zootechnique majeure qu’est la domestication ; et plus globalement, de questionner l’évolution des relations Hommes-Canidés à travers les différents techno-complexes du Paléolithique supérieur

Expression clinique et scannographique des malformations artério-veineuses pulmonaires dans la maladie de Rendu-Osler-Weber ou télangiectasie hémorragique héréditaire (étude rétrospective de 32 cas)

TOURS-BU Médecine (372612103) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Archéologie et environnement en Val-d'Oise. Construite un outil pour analyser, gérer et produire.

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Generation of a cokriging metamodel using a multiparametric strategy

International audienceIn the course of designing structural assemblies, performing a full optimization is very expensive in terms of computation time. In order or reduce this cost, we propose a multilevel model optimization approach. This paper lays the foundations of this strategy by presenting a method for constructing an approximation of an objective function. This approach consists in coupling a multiparametric mechanical strategy based on the LATIN method with a gradient-based metamodel called a cokriging metamodel. The main difficulty is to build an accurate approximation while keeping the computation cost low. Following an introduction to multiparametric and cokriging strategies, the performance of kriging and cokriging models is studied using one- and two-dimensional analytical functions; then, the performance of metamodels built from mechanical responses provided by the multiparametric strategy is analyzed based on two mechanical test example

A dedicated multiparametric strategy for the fast construction of a cokriging metamodel

International audienceThis paper deals with the building of a gradient-based metamodel using a dedicated strategy for solving structural assemblies problems. This work is the first part of a two-levels global optimization strategy. The general objective is to reduce computation costs; here, we focus on the costs which are associated with the generation of the metamodel. Our goal is achieved through the introduction of two main elements: what we call a “multiparametric strategy” based on the LATIN method, which reduces the computation costs when the parameters vary, and the use of a cokriging metamodel taking gradients into account. Several examples illustrate the efficiency of these two element

Image acquisition process simulator

International audienceIn order to design a new sensor, exploring acquisition mode options before manufacturing allows to measure their impact on the quality of resulting image and image processing. This exploration can even be done to optimize a sensor for a given application. Hence, from the very beginning of the design of conventional or unconventional sensors, mastering picture acquisition process is a keypoint to take into account every physical phenomenon that affects image quality. To achieve this goal, an image acquisition process simulator has been designed. In order to get accurate and reliable results, the simulator had to match physical phenomena (e.g. diffraction) and to model noises. The simulator has been designed to be as modular as possible to model pixels with various function modes-for instance a differentiated-by-zone acquisition mode-, different sizes, several spectral bands, several acquisition times, different reading orders. Our simulator can also model systems whose optical design is more complex, knowing their optical transfer function. Every step of the simulation has been evaluated and the simulator has been globally tested on point sources, simulated and real pictures and aerial high definition pictures.Pour concevoir un nouveau capteur, en particulier non conventionnel, explorer les options de mode d'acquisition avant sa réalisation permet de mesurer leur impact sur la qualité des images produites. Voire, cette exploration peut être faite en vue de l'optimisation d'un capteur pour une application. C'est pourquoi la maîtrise de la chaîne d'acquisition de l'image est un élément clef pour intégrer, dès la conception des capteurs, conventionnels ou non, les différents effets altérant l'image. Pour y répondre, un simulateur de chaîne d'acquisition d'images à été développé. La fidélité du simulateur aux phénomènes physiques impliqués (tels que la diffraction) et la prise en compte des bruits sont impératives pour obtenir des résultats représentatifs. Le simulateur a été conçu pour être très modulaire et prendre en compte des capteurs à types de fonctionnement variés mais aussi des capteurs hétérogènes-où différents modes d'acquisition peuvent être présents selon la position-de différentes surfaces, plusieurs bandes spectrales, divers temps d'intégration selon les pixels, différents ordres de lecture des pixels selon différentes formes de séquences temporelles. On peut également simuler des systèmes dont l'optique serait plus complexe, connaissant leur fonction de transfert optique. Chaque étape de simulation a été évaluée et le simulateur global a été testé sur des sources ponctuelles, des images simulées et réelles et des images aériennes haute définition