An overview of robotics and autonomous systems for harsh environments

Across a wide range of industries and applications, robotics and autonomous systems can fulfil the crucial and challenging tasks such as inspection, exploration, monitoring, drilling, sampling and mapping in areas of scientific discovery, disaster prevention, human rescue and infrastructure management, etc. However, in many situations, the associated environment is either too dangerous or inaccessible to humans. Hence, a wide range of robots have been developed and deployed to replace or aid humans in these activities. A look at these harsh environment applications of robotics demonstrate the diversity of technologies developed. This paper reviews some key application areas of robotics that involve interactions with harsh environments (such as search and rescue, space exploration, and deep-sea operations), gives an overview of the developed technologies and provides a discussion of the key trends and future directions common to many of these areas

Stockage de carbone et flux de gaz à effet de serre en prairie (synthèse bibliographique)

Carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas fluxes in grassland. A review. Grassland carbon (C) sequestration can play an important role in mitigating total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of livestock production systems. An accurate inventory of livestock production system contribution to GHG emissions requires to think in terms of global budget, by considering both the GHG sources and the mitigation potential trough grassland soil carbon sequestration. There is a huge variability in C and GHG balances of grasslands that is mainly due to management practices and climatic conditions. The present article shows that, to reduce the uncertainties of the results, long term measurements at the field scale are necessary. Also, it shows the importance of taking into account the fluxes of the three main GHGs (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane) into account when calculating the GHG budget. This article also highlights the need for a better understanding of the mechanisms driving the fluxes, in relation to environmental factors and management practices, in order to propose mitigation strategies able to enhance soil carbon sequestration in soils and to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions

Model for replication potential

This report is a deliverable for the REMOURBAN (REgeneration MOdel for accelerating the smart URBAN transformation) project which is a HORIZON 2020 programme project. Deliverable 5.2 was aimed at the development of a model for replication potential

Vipera aspis dans les Pyrénées

Le serpent a depuis toujours suscité peur, fascination, curiosité. Cette étude est consacrée à Vipera aspis dans les Pyrénées. Nous présentons sa morphologie, son mode de vie (habitat, répartition, mœurs...), son appareil venimeux et son venin. Morsure ne veut pas forcément dire envenimation, nous envisageons le rôle du pharmacien d'officine avec les gestes de 1er secours et son rôle de relais avant la prise en charge médicale. Aujourd'hui Viperfav a révolutionné le pronostic des morsures par Vipera aspis.BORDEAUX2-BU Santé (330632101) / SudocSudocFranceF

"It is not just elected representatives that exercise public power" : A comparative study of integration in five municipalities in Stockholm County

Based on different integration policies, we aim to examine how five municipalities in Stockholm County are working to promote integration at a local level with focus on voter participation and to some extent, representativeness among foreign-born. Statistics provided by SCB shows that foreign-born tends to vote to a lesser extent than those born in Sweden. Further, we aim to examine the implementation of two policy documents established at a national level concerning integration in contrast to policy documents established at a local level in each different municipality. Further, we aim to examine summaries of actions taken in response to the local integration programs, as well as personal interviews. Each municipality will be considered separately, but we thus seek to make a comparative study. The study will be based on a qualitative approach. The implementation process of both central and local policy decisions concerning the promotion of integration will also be discussed in terms of two existing theories of implementation, based on two different perspectives. The result shows that interaction between different participants, such as local officials and politicians, is of importance for the implementation process. All of the studied municipalities have taken some actions in order to implement their goals concerning integration

Cabon sequestration and greenhouse gas fluxes in grassland

Dans l’optique d’une atténuation des émissions de Gaz à Effet de Serre (GES) des systèmes d’élevage, les écosystèmes prairiaux peuvent jouer un rôle important vu leur potentiel de séquestration de carbone (C) dans les sols. Une évaluation pertinente de la contribution des systèmes d’élevage herbivores aux émissions de GES nécessite donc de raisonner en termes de bilan, en considérant à la fois les sources de GES et leur compensation via la séquestration de carbone par les prairies. Cette synthèse, basée sur des résultats expérimentaux recensés dans la littérature, fait apparaitre l’importance de considérer conjointement les flux des trois principaux GES : dioxyde de carbone (CO2), protoxyde d’azote (N2O), méthane (CH4). De plus, les bilans de C et de GES des parcelles présentent une grande variabilité, essentiellement liée aux conditions pédoclimatiques et aux modes de gestion. Cet article souligne la nécessité de poursuivre les mesures à l’échelle de la parcelle et ce, pendant suffisamment d’années, de manière à établir des bilans robustes et intégrant la variabilité interannuelle. Enfin, il met en évidence la nécessité d’améliorer la compréhension des mécanismes contrôlant les différents échanges, en relation avec les facteurs environnementaux et les modes de gestion et ce, afin de pouvoir proposer des itinéraires techniques capables de maintenir un puits de carbone minimum, tout en limitant les émissions de méthane et de protoxyde d’azote.Grassland carbon (C) sequestration can play an important role in mitigating total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of livestock production systems. An accurate inventory of livestock production system contribution to GHG emissions requires to think in terms of global budget, by considering both the GHG sources and the mitigation potential trough grassland soil carbon sequestration. There is a huge variability in C and GHG balances of grasslands that is mainly due to management practices and climatic conditions. The present article shows that, to reduce the uncertainties of the results, long term measurements at the field scale are necessary. Also, it shows the importance of taking the fluxes of the three main GHGs (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane) into account when calculating the GHG budget. This article also highlights the need for a better understanding of the mechanisms driving the fluxes, in relation to environmental factors and management practices, in order to propose mitigation strategies able to enhance soil carbon sequestration in soils and to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions