Construction de familles minimales de courbes gauches

Let $A$ be a local noetherian ring and $N$ be a locally sheaf on the projective space $P^3_A$ : one proves easily that there exists a family $C$ of (smooth connected) curves contained in $P^3_A$, flat over $A$, and an integer $h$ such that the ideal sheaf $J$ of $C$ has a resolution $0\to P\to N\to J\to 0$ where $P$ is a direct sum of invertible sheaves $O_P(-n_i)$. In this paper we determine, for a given sheaf $N$, all the families of curves with such a resolution, especially the minimal ones (corresponding to the minimum value of $h$). It gives a description of the biliaison class related to $N$, and a tool for constructing families of space curves.Comment: 17 pages Te

Triades et familles de courbes gauches

Let $A$ be a noetherian ring and $R_A$ be the graded ring $A[X,Y,Z,T]$. In this article we introduce the notion of a triad, which is a generalization to families of curves in ${\bf P}^3_A$ of the notion of Rao module. A triad is a complex of graded $R_A$-modules $(L_1 \to L_0 \to L_{-1})$ with certain finiteness hypotheses on its cohomology modules. A pseudo-isomorphism between two triads is a morphism of complexes which induces an isomorphism on the functors $h_0 (L\otimes .)$ and a monomorphism on the functors $h_{-1} (L\otimes .)$. One says that two triads are pseudo-isomorphic if they are connected by a chain of pseudo-isomorphisms. We show that to each family of curves is associated a triad, unique up to pseudo-isomorphism, and we show that the map $\{\hbox{families of curves}\}\to \{\hbox{triads}\}$ has almost all the good properties of the map $\{\hbox{curves}\}\to \{\hbox{Rao modules}\}$. In a section of examples, we show how to construct triads and families of curves systematically starting from a graded module and a sub-quotient (that is a submodule of a quotient module), and we apply these results to show the connectedness of $H_{4,0}$.Comment: 59 pages, Te

Absolute palaeointensity of Oligocene (28-30 Ma) lava flows from the Kerguelen Archipelago (southern Indian Ocean).

We report palaeointensity estimates obtained from three Oligocene volcanic sections from the Kerguelen Archipelago (Mont des Ruches, Mont des Tempêtes, and Mont Rabouillère). Of 402 available samples, 102 were suitable for a palaeofield strength determination after a preliminary selection, among which 49 provide a reliable estimate. Application of strict a posteriori criteria make us confident about the quality of the 12 new mean-flow determinations, which are the first reliable data available for the Kerguelen Archipelago. The Virtual Dipole Moments (VDM) calculated for these flows vary from 2.78 to 9.47 10e22 Am2 with an arithmetic mean value of 6.15+-2.1 10e22 Am2. Compilation of these results with a selection of the 2002 updated IAGA palaeointensity database lead to a higher (5.4+-2.3 10e22 Am2) Oligocene mean VDM than previously reported, identical to the 5.5+-2.4 10e22 Am2 mean VDM obtained for the 0.3-5 Ma time window. However, these Kerguelen palaeointensity estimates represent half of the reliable Oligocene determinations and thus a bias toward higher values. Nonetheless, the new estimates reported here strengthen the conclusion that the recent geomagnetic field strength is anomalously high compared to that older than 0.3 Ma

Investigating the reasons for the failure of paleointensity experiments: a study on historical lava flows from Mt. Etna (Italy)

20 pages, 15 figures, 3 tablesA refined palaeointensity experiment, accompanied by rock-magnetic studies, has been carried out on six lava flows from 1910 and 1928 from Mt. Etna. The purpose of the study was to try to understand why these very young basaltic flows are generally unable to provide a correct estimate of the magnitude of the ambient magnetic field during flow cooling. Susceptibility versus temperature curves and ore microscopic studies show that 3 types of magnetic minerals (phases "h", "m" and "l") are present in these flows, some samples containing a single largely dominant magnetic phase while others contain a mixture of several phases. Phase "h" is a thermally stable, near magnetite phase resulting from titanomagnetite oxyexsolution. Phase "l" is a thermally stable titanomagnetite with a Curie temperature of approximately 200ºC. Phase "m" is a titanomagnetite phase of Curie temperature between 450-490ºC which is unstable at temperatures above 400ºC. In addition to the usual reliability checks of the Thellier method (NRM-TRM linearity, pTRM checks), our paleointensity experiments included additional heatings allowing determination of the MD or PSD-SD character of each pTRM and determination of CRM or transdomain remanences possibly acquired during heating. From the 28 samples studied 20 provide a linear NRM-TRM plot over about 1/4 or more of total NRM. However, only six of them, all containing near-magnetite as a single phase, display positive pTRM checks. Nevertheless, these six samples yield a mean paleointensity of about 52 µT, which exceeds the real field paleomagnitude (42 µT) by some 25%. The reasons for this almost-total failure of paleointensity experiments are diverse. For samples with a dominant "l" phase, pTRMs present a behaviour typical of large MD grains, with as much as 1/3 of remanence with unblocking temperatures exceeding the blocking range. No CRM is acquired. Yet a remanence does develop during heating in a field (followed by cooling in zero field). We suggest that this remanence is a transdomain remanence resulting from domain rearrangements. These two observations are in conflict with some of the basic requirements of the Thellier method. Phase "m" seems chemically stable up to 400°C but pTRM changes start at lower temperatures. This thermal instability and the development of a significant transdomain remanence seem to be the causes of the failure of paleointensity experiments. The reason for the rather large (and quite unexpected) error in the average paleointensity provided by the samples containing only a near magnetite (phase "h") may lie in the fact that the low to medium temperature pTRMs, which represent a significant fraction of the total TRM, seem to be carried by small MD particles. In conclusion, several modifications of the Thellier method are proposed

Revisiting the Jurassic Geomagnetic Reversal recorded in the Lesotho Basalt (Southern Africa)

We carried out a detailed and continuous paleomagnetic sampling of the reversed to normal geomagnetic transition recorded by some 60 consecutive flow units near the base of the Lesotho Basalt (183  1 Ma). After alternating field or thermal cleaning the directions of remanence are generally well clustered within flow units. In contrast, the thermal instability of the samples did not allow to obtain reliable paleointensity determinations. The geomagnetic transition is incompletely recorded due to a gap in volcanic activity attested both by eolian deposits and a large angular distance between the field directions of the flows underlying or overlying these deposits. The transition path is noticeably different from that reported in the pioneer work of van Zijl et al. (1962). The most transitional Virtual Geomagnetic Poles are observed after the volcanic hiatus. Once continents are replaced in their relative position 180 Ma ago, the post-hiatus VGP cluster over Russia. However, two successive rebounds from that cluster are found, with VGP reaching repeatedly Eastern Asia coast. Thus, the VGP path is not narrowly constrained in paleolongitude. The decrease in intensity of magnetization as the field deviates from the normal or reversed direction suggests that the decrease in field magnitude during the reversal reached 80-90%. We conclude that although the reversal is of a dipole of much weaker moment than that which existed on average during Cenozoic time, the characteristics of the reversing geodynamo seem to be basically similar.Comment: Paper No GD124 submitted to Geophysical Journal International. Received in original form 20/01/2003, accepted 09/04/200

Monitoring programme of antimicrobial resistance in sentinel bacteria isolated from intestinalflora of pigs and poultry 1999-2001

Un programme de surveillance des taux de résistance aux antibiotiques chez des bactéries indicatrices ( Escherichia coli et Enterococcus faecium) isolées de la flore intestinale du poulet de chair et du porc a été mis en place, en France, pour déterminer leurs évolutions en fonction du temps. Plusieurs antibiotiques représentatifs des classes d’antibiotiques utilisées comme médicaments vétérinaires ou comme facteurs de croissance ont été étudiés. Une évolution statistiquement significative du niveau de résistance à trois antibiotiques a été mis en évidence chez les souches d’ Enterococcus faecium isolées chez le poulet de chair. L’hypothèse d’égalité des niveaux de résistance entre les différentes années d’études n’a pas pu être rejetée pour les souches d' Enterococcus faecium isolées chez le porc. Une réduction statistiquement significative de la résistance chez les souches d' Escherichia coli est observée pour la streptomycine et le triméthoprime pour celles isolées du poulet de chair et pour la streptomycine et l’apramycine pour celles isolées du porc.A monitoring programme of antimicrobial resistance of sentinel bacteria (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium) isolated from intestinal flora of poultry and pigs has been implemented to follow trends in France. Several antimicrobials representative of different antimicrobial families used as veterinary drugs and feed additives has been tested. A statistically significant variation between the different years has been observed for Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from poultry for resistance against three antimicrobials while the hypothesis of equality could not be rejected for pig strains. A statistically significant decrease of Escherichia coli resistance was observed in each animal species for two antimicrobials tested (streptomycin and trimethoprim in poultry, streptomycin and apramycin in pig)

Establishing Streptomycin Epidemiological Cut-Off Values for Salmonella and Escherichia coli

This study was conducted to elucidate the accuracy of the current streptomycin epidemiological cut-off value (ECOFF) for Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. A total of 236 Salmonella enterica and 208 E. coli isolates exhibiting MICs between 4 and 32¿mg/L were selected from 12 countries. Isolates were investigated by polymerase chain reaction for aadA, strA, and strB streptomycin resistance genes. Out of 236 Salmonella isolates, 32 (13.5%) yielded amplicons for aadA (n¿=¿23), strA (n¿=¿9), and strB (n¿=¿11). None of the 60 Salmonella isolates exhibiting MIC 4¿mg/L harbored resistance genes. Of the Salmonella isolates exhibiting MICs 8¿mg/L, 16¿mg/L, and 32¿mg/L, 1.6%, 15%, and 39%, respectively, tested positive for one or more genes. For most monitoring programs, the streptomycin ECOFF for Salmonella is wild type (WT) =32 or =16¿mg/L. A cut-off value of WT =32¿mg/L would have misclassified 13.5% of the strains as belonging to the WT population, since this proportion of strains harbored resistance genes and exhibited MICs =32¿mg/L. Out of 208 E. coli strains, 80 (38.5%) tested positive for aadA (n¿=¿69), strA (n¿=¿18), and strB (n¿=¿31). Of the E. coli isolates exhibiting MICs of 4¿mg/L, 8¿mg/L, 16¿mg/L, and 32¿mg/L, 3.6%, 17.6%, 53%, and 82.3%, respectively, harbored any of the three genes. Based on the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing guidelines (ECOFF =16¿mg/L), 25% of the E. coli strains presenting MIC =16¿mg/L would have been incorrectly categorized as belonging to the WT population. The authors recommend an ECOFF value of WT =16¿mg/L for Salmonella and WT =8¿mg/L for E. coli

Transdisciplinary participatory-action-research from questions to actionable knowledge for sustainable viticulture development

Viticulture negatively impacts the environment, biodiversity, and human health; however, despite the widely acknowledged challenges that this intensive agricultural activity poses to sustainable development, measures to reduce its invasiveness are constantly being deferred or rebuffed. Constraints to change are linked to vine cultivation methods, the impacts of climate change on vine resilience and disease sensitivity, and socio-economic models, as well as growing criticisms from society. Research and training have thus far failed to provide solutions or mobilise stakeholders on a large scale. Such resistance to sustainable practices development calls into question the effectiveness of knowledge production systems and relations between scientists, winegrowers, and society: Have scientific disciplines overly isolated themselves from each other and from the wider society to the point of losing the capacity to incorporate alternative forms of knowledge and reasoning and achieve collaborative action? Herein, we describe our findings from a participatory action research project that began in Westhalten, France, in 2013 and ultimately spread to Switzerland and Germany over the next 6 years. We show that participatory action research can mobilise long-term collaborations between winegrowers, NGOs, advisers, elected officials, members of civil society, and researchers, despite differing visions of viticulture and the environment. The epistemological framework of this research promotes consensus-building by valuing complexity and dissensus in knowledge and reasoning such that all actors are involved in experimentation and the production of results. From these findings, consensus statements were collectively elaborated in qualitative and quantitative registers. Once acknowledged by the scientific community, these consensus statements became shareable knowledge. We propose that this renewed interdisciplinarity associating the human and social sciences with agronomic and biological sciences in collaboration with stakeholders produces actionable knowledge that mobilises and engages winegrowers to conceive and implement sustainable viticulture on a transnational scale