pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Behavior of the parameters of microcrystalline silicon TFTs under mechanical strain

International audienceN-type and P-type microcrystalline silicon top-gate TFTs, processed directly on PEN plastic substrate at maximum temperature of 180 °C, were mechanically stressed. These TFTs were bent by different curvature radii varying between infinite (flat) and 0.5 cm. The tensile stress increases the electron mobility and the compressive stress decreases it. The tensile stress decreases the threshold voltage of N-type TFTs while the compressive stress increases it. These trends are inversed if the type of stress changes OR the type of TFTs changes. The total behavior under mechanical stress is exactly similar to that of single crystalline silicon MOSFETs in nano-scale technologies (90, 65, 45, 32 nm), where nano-scale stress is introduced in the goal to engineer the electrical parameters. The similarity originates from the microcrystalline silicon active layer that behaves like single crystalline silicon even if the stress effects are softened by the grain boundaries and the multiple crystalline orientations of the grains
Knapsack problem with objective value gaps

International audienceWe study a 0-1 knapsack problem, in which the objective value is forbidden to take some values. We call gaps related forbidden intervals. The problem is NP-hard and pseudo-polynomially solvable independently on the measure of gaps. If the gaps are large, then the problem is polynomially non-approximable. A non-trivial special case with respect to the approximate solution appears when the gaps are small and polynomially close to zero. For this case, two fully polynomial time approximation schemes are proposed. The results can be extended for the constrained longest path problem and other combinatorial problems
Catalytic and structural diversity of the fluazifop-inducible glutathione transferases from Phaseolus vulgaris

Plant glutathione transferases (GSTs) comprise a large family of inducible enzymes that play important roles in stress tolerance and herbicide detoxification. Treatment of Phaseolus vulgaris leaves with the aryloxyphenoxypropionic herbicide fluazifop-p-butyl resulted in induction of GST activities. Three inducible GST isoenzymes were identified and separated by affinity chromatography. Their full-length cDNAs with complete open reading frame were isolated using RACE-RT and information from N-terminal amino acid sequences. Analysis of the cDNA clones showed that the deduced amino acid sequences share high homology with GSTs that belong to phi and tau classes. The three isoenzymes were expressed in E. coli and their substrate specificity was determined towards 20 different substrates. The results showed that the fluazifop-inducible glutathione transferases from P. vulgaris (PvGSTs) catalyze a broad range of reactions and exhibit quite varied substrate specificity. Molecular modeling and structural analysis was used to identify key structural characteristics and to provide insights into the substrate specificity and the catalytic mechanism of these enzymes. These results provide new insights into catalytic and structural diversity of GSTs and the detoxifying mechanism used by P. vulgaris
Lymphatic function is required prenatally for lung inflation at birth

Mammals must inflate their lungs and breathe within minutes of birth to survive.  A key regulator of neonatal lung inflation is pulmonary surfactant, a lipoprotein complex which increases lung compliance by reducing alveolar surface tension (Morgan, 1971). Whether other developmental processes also alter lung mechanics in preparation for birth is unknown. We identify prenatal lymphatic function as an unexpected requirement for neonatal lung inflation and respiration. Mice lacking lymphatic vessels, due either to loss of the lymphangiogenic factor CCBE1 or VEGFR3 function, appear cyanotic and die shortly after birth due to failure of lung inflation. Failure of lung inflation is not due to reduced surfactant levels or altered development of the lung but is associated with an elevated wet/dry ratio consistent with edema. Embryonic studies reveal active lymphatic function in the late gestation lung, and significantly reduced total lung compliance in late gestation embryos that lack lymphatics. These findings reveal that lymphatic vascular function plays a previously unrecognized mechanical role in the developing lung that prepares it for inflation at birth. They explain respiratory failure in infants with congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia, and suggest that inadequate late gestation lymphatic function may also contribute to respiratory failure in premature infants
Compartmentalization of physical and chemical properties in hard-rock aquifers deduced from chemical and groundwater age analyses

International audienceUsing groundwater age determination done through CFC analysis and geochemical data obtained from seven sites in Brittany (France), a hydrogeochemical model for hard-rock aquifers is presented. According to the geological structure, three zones can be defined: the weathered layer, about 30 m thick; the weathered-fissured layer (fractured rock with a high density of fissures induced by weathering), which represents a transition zone between the weathered zone and the lower fractured zone; and the unweathered part of the aquifer. (1) The weathered layer (alterites) is often considered as a porous medium and is the only part frequently used in hard-rock aquifers. Recent apparent ages (0­10 a) are observed in the groundwater fluctuation zone in a thin layer, which is from 1­2 m-thick in the lower parts and 10­15 m-thick in the upper parts of the catchments. Below this thin layer, the groundwater apparent age is high (between 10 and 25 a) and is unexpectedly homogeneous at the regional scale. This groundwater apparent age contrast, which also corresponds to a Cl- concentration contrast, is attributed to rapid lateral transfers in the fluctuation zone which limit water transfer to the underlying weathered zone. Groundwater chemistry is characterized by and Cl- concentrations related to land uses (high in agricultural areas, low in preserved ones). (2) At the interface between the weathered and the weathered-fissured layers a strong biogeochemical reactivity is observed. Autotrophic denitrification is enhanced by a higher availability of sulfides. (3) Under this interface, in the weathered-fissured layer and the underlying fractured deep part of the aquifer, groundwater apparent age is clearly correlated to depth. The vertical groundwater velocity is estimated to be 3 m/a, whatever be the site, which seems to indicate a regional topographic control on groundwater circulation in the deep part of the aquifer. In this deep part, groundwater chemistry is modified by water­rock interaction processes as indicated by Ca and Na concentrations, and a slight sea-water contribution (from 0.1% to 0.65%) in the sites close to the seacoast. One site inland shows a saline and old end-member. The global hydrogeochemical scheme is modified when the aquifer is pumped at a high rate in the fissured-weathered layer and/or the fractured layer. The increase in water velocity leads to a homogeneous groundwater apparent age, whatever be the depth in the weathered-fissured and fractured layers
Pneumocystosis: a network survey in the Paris area 2003-2008

International audienceThe aims of this network group were to collect epidemiological data of PcP cases in 14 hospitals in the Paris area and to determine the Di-Hydro Pteroate Synthase (DHPS) genotypes, genetic markers for possible sulfamide resistance. From January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2008, 993 (mean 166/year) PcP cases have been reported. Sixty-five percent of patients were HIV-positive. The median count of CD4 lymphocytes was 32/mm (30 in HIV-positive patients, 152 in HIV-negative patients). In HIV-positive patients, PcP revealed the HIV infection in 39%. Among 304 PcP occurring in HIV known infected patients, no prophylaxis was prescribed for 64%; cotrimoxazole prophylaxis had been prescribed to 47 patients but only one of them had the right compliance. In HIV-negative patients (264), corticosteroids were prescribed in 59% and cytotoxic chemotherapies in 34%; 78% did not receive prophylaxis. One hundred sixty nine tumoral pathologies and 116 transplantations were notified. The mortality rate was 16% at day 14 (13% in HIV-positive patients, 26% in HIV-negative patients). Mutations in DHPS genes were detected in 18.5% of samples; 12.5% of patients were infected with several strains. The total annual number of cases has been stable for five years but the proportion of HIV-negative patients increased from 25% to 43%
Sparse Approximations for Quaternionic Signals

International audienceIn this study, we introduce a new processing procedure for quaternionic signals through consideration of the well-known orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP), which provides sparse approximation. Due to quaternions non-commutativity, two quaternionic extensions are presented: the right-multiplication quaternionic OMP, that can be used to process right-multiplication linear combinations of quaternionic signals, and the left-multiplication quaternionic OMP, that can be used to process left-multiplication linear combinations. As validation, these quaternionic OMP are applied to simulated data. Deconvolution is carried out and presented here with a new spikegram that is designed for visualization of quaternionic coefficients, and finally these are compared to multivariate OMP
Droplet Digital PCR combined with minisequencing, a new approach to analyze fetal DNA from maternal blood: application to the non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of achondroplasia.

International audienceAchondroplasia is generally detected by abnormal prenatal ultrasound-findings in the third trimester of pregnancy, and then confirmed by molecular genetic testing of fetal genomic DNA obtained by aspiration of amniotic fluid. This invasive procedure presents a small but significant risk for both the fetus and mother. Therefore, non-invasive procedures using cell-free-fetal DNA in maternal plasma have been developed for the detection of the fetal achondroplasia mutations.MethodsTo determine whether the fetus carries the de novo nonsense genetic mutation at nucleotide 1138 in FGFR3 gene involved in >99% of achondroplasia cases, we developed two independent methods: digital-droplet PCR combined with minisequencing, which are very sensitive methods allowing detection of rare alleles.ResultsWe collected 26 plasmatic samples from women carrying fetus at risk of achondroplasia, and diagnosed to date a total of five affected fetuses in maternal blood. The sensitivity and specificity of our test are respectively 100% [95% confidence interval, 56.6 to 100%] and 100% [95% confidence interval, 84.5 to 100%].ConclusionsThis novel, original strategy for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of achondroplasia is suitable for implementation in routine clinical testing and allows considering extending the applications of these technologies in non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of many other monogenic diseases
Clustering of floaters on the free surface of a turbulent flow: An experimental study

International audienceWe present an experimental study of the statistical properties of millimeter-size spheres floating on the surface of a turbulent flow. The flow is generated in a layer of liquid metal by an electromagnetic forcing. By using two magnet arrays, we are able to create one highly fluctuating flow and another, more stationary flow. In both cases, we follow the motion of hundreds of particles floating at the deformed interface of the liquid metal. We evidence the clustering of floaters by a statistical study of the local concentration of particles. Some dynamical properties of clusters are exposed. We perform spatial correlations between particle concentration and hydrodynamical quantities linked with inertial effects; with vortical motion, and with horizontal divergence (corresponding to compressibility in the surface). From comparing these correlations, we propose the so-called surface compressibility as the main clustering mechanism in our system. Hence, although floaters are not passive scalar and move on a deformed surface, the scenario is similar to the one reported for passive scalar on an almost flat free surface of a turbulent flow
New Nevanlinna matrices for orthogonal polynomials related to cubic birth and death processes

11 pages; latex2e; pas de figuresThe orthogonal polynomials with recurrence relation \[(\la_n+\mu_n-z)\,F_n(z)=\mu_{n+1}\,F_{n+1}(z)+\la_{n-1}\,F_{n-1}(z)\] and the three kinds of cubic transition rates \[\left\{\barr{ll} \la_n=(3n+1)^2(3n+2), & \qq\mu_n=(3n-1)(3n)^2,\\[4mm] \la_n=(3n+2)^2(3n+3), & \qq\mu_n=3n(3n+1)^2,\\[4mm] \la_n=(3n+1)(3n+2)^2, & \qq\mu_n=(3n)^2(3n+1),\earr\right.\] correspond to indeterminate Stieltjes moment problems. It follows that the polynomials $\,F_n(z)\,$ have infinitely many orthogonality measures, whose Stieltjes transform is obtained from their Nevanlinna matrix, a $2\times 2$ matrix of entire functions. We present the full Nevanlinna matrix for these three classes of polynomials and we discuss its growthat infinity and the asymptotic behaviour of the spectra of the Nevanlinna extremal measures
Frequency of low back pain among men and women aged 30 to 64 years in France. Results of two national surveys.

International audienceINTRODUCTION: In France, most studies of low back pain (LBP) have been carried out among workers or patients. Until very recently, the frequency of LBP in the general population was not known, because National Health Surveys did not include questions on LBP. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of LBP in the French population aged 30 to 64 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The main data were from the National Health Survey 2002-2003 (n=14,248). LBP was assessed by an accompanying self-administered questionnaire asking details about duration of LBP in the previous 12 months. Weights were used to estimate the prevalence of LBP in the French population, with two definitions of LBP. Additional results dealing with chronic LBP, from another national survey (Handicap, Disability and Dependence), are also briefly presented. RESULTS: More than half of the French population in this age group experienced LBP at least one day in the previous 12 months (LBP1), with 17% experiencing LBP for more than 30 days in the previous 12 months (LBP30); prevalence differed between men and women and that of LBP30 increased with age. DISCUSSION-CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LBP as assessed by the National Health Survey is similar to that found in countries other than France. These estimates can be used as a reference for surveys in specific populations, provided that comparable methodologies are used
Galactic Cold Cores IV. Cold sub-millimetre sources: catalogue and statistical analysis

International audienceContext. For the project Galactic cold cores, Herschel photometric observations were carried out as a follow-up of cold regions of interstellar clouds previously identified with the Planck satellite. The aim of the project is to derive the physical properties of the population of cold sources and to study its connection to ongoing and future star formation.Aims.We build a catalogue of cold sources within the clouds in 116 fields observed with the Herschel PACS and SPIRE instruments.We wish to determine the general physical characteristics of the cold sources and to examine the correlations with their host cloud properties.Methods. From Herschel data, we computed colour temperature and column density maps of the fields. We estimated the distance to the target clouds and provide both uncertainties and reliability flags for the distances. The getsources multiwavelength source extraction algorithm was employed to build a catalogue of several thousand cold sources. Mid-infrared data were used, along with colour and position criteria, to separate starless and protostellar sources. We also propose another classification method based on submillimetre temperature profiles. We analysed the statistical distributions of the physical properties of the source samples
Search for mixed-symmetry states of nuclei in the vicinity of the double-magic nucleus

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution Licence 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.International audienceIn this work we present the results from two experiments dedicated to search for quadrupole-collective isovector valence-shell excitation, the states with so-called mixed proton-neutron symmetry (MSS), in nuclei around the doubly magic nucleus $^{208}$Pb. $^{212}$Po was studied in an α-transfer reaction. $^{204}$Hg was studied in an inverse kinematics Coulomb excitation reaction on a carbon target. Both experiments provide indications for existence of one-phonon MSSs. Those are the first experimentally identified MSSs in the mass A ≈ 208 region
Contribution of climatic and anthropogenic effects to the hydric deficit of peatlands

International audienceThe present study makes use of a detailed water balance to investigate the hydrological status of a peatland with a basal clay-rich layer overlying an aquifer exploited for drinking water. The aim is to determine the influence of climate and groundwater extraction on the water balance and water levels in the peatland. During the two-year period of monitoring, the hydrological functioning of the wetland showed a hydric deficit, associated with a permanent unsaturated layer and a deep water table. At the same time, a stream was observed serving as a recharge inflow instead of draining the peatland, as usually described in natural systems. Such conditions are not favourable for peat accumulation. Field investigations show that the clay layer has a high hydraulic conductivity (1.10-7 to 3.10-9 m.s-1) and does not form a hydraulic barrier. Moreover, the vertical hydraulic gradients are downward between the peat and the sand aquifer, leading to high flows of groundwater through the clay layer (20 to 48% of the precipitation). The observed hydric deficit of the peatland results from a combination of dry climatic conditions during the study period and groundwater extraction. The climatic effect is mainly expressed through drying out of the peatland, while the anthropogenic effect leads to an enhancement of the climatic effect on a global scale, and a modification of fluxes at a local scale. The drying out of the peatland can lead to its mineralization, which thus gives rise to environmental impacts. The protection of such wetlands in the context of climate change should take account of anthropogenic pressures by considering the wetland-aquifer interaction
Transient variations of vertical total electron content over some African stations from 2002 to 2012

International audienceThis paper presents the vertical total electron content vTEC variations for three African stations, located at mid-low and equatorial latitudes, and operating since more than 10 years. The vTEC of the middle latitude GPS station in Alexandria, Egypt (31.2167°N; 29.9667°E, geographic) is compared to the vTEC of two others GPS stations: the first one in Rabat/Morocco (33.9981°N; 353.1457°E, geographic), and the second in Libreville/Gabon (0.3539°N; 9.6721°E, geographic). Our results discussed the diurnal, seasonal, and solar cycle dependences of vTEC at the local ionospheric conditions, during different phases of solar cycle in the light of the classification of Legrand and Simon. The vTEC over Alexandria exhibits the well-known equinoctial asymmetry which changes with the phases of the solar cycle; the spring vTEC is larger than that of autumn during the maximum, decreasing and minimum phases of solar cycle 23. During the increasing phase of solar cycle 24, it is the contrary. The diurnal variation of the vTEC presents multiple maxima during the equinox from 2005 to 2008 and during the summer solstice from 2006 to 2012. A nighttime vTEC enhancement and winter anomaly are also observed. During the deep solar minimum (2006–2009) the diurnal variation of the vTEC observed over Alexandria is similar to the diurnal variation observed during quiet magnetic period at equatorial latitudes. We observed also that the amplitude of vTEC at Libreville is larger than the amplitude of vTEC observed at Alexandria and Rabat, indeed Libreville is near the southern crest of the Equatorial Ionization anomaly. Finally, the correlation coefficient between vTEC and the sunspot number Rz is high and changes with solar cycle phases
Reconstruction of a constitutive law for rubber from in silico experiments using Ogden's laws

International audienceThis article deals with the following data assimilation problem: construct an analytical approximation of a numerical constitutive law in three-dimensional nonlinear elasticity. More precisely we are concerned with a micro-macro model for rubber. Macroscopic quantities of interest such as the Piola-Kirchhoff stress tensor can be approximated for any value of the strain gradient by numerically solving a nonlinear PDE. This procedure is however computationally demanding. Hence, although conceptually satisfactory, this physically-based model is of no direct practical use. The aim of this article is to circumvent this difficulty by proposing a numerical strategy to reconstruct from in silico experiments an accurate analytical proxy for the micro-macro constitutive law
Geometrical optimization and electrical performance comparison of thin-film tandem structures based on pm-Si:H and µc-Si:H using computer simulation

International audienceThis article investigates the optimal efficiency of a photovoltaic system based on a silicon thin film tandem cell using polymorphous and microcrystalline silicon for the top and bottom elementary cells, respectively. Two ways of connecting the cells are studied and compared: (1) a classical structure in which the two cells are electrically and optically coupled; and (2) a new structure for which the "current-matching" constraint is released by the electrical decoupling of the two cells. For that purpose, we used a computer simulation to perform geometrical optimization of the studied structures as well as their electrical performance evaluation. The simulation results show that the second structure is more interesting in terms of efficiency
Use of fluorescence spectroscopy and voltammetry for the analysis of metal- organic matter interactions in the New Caledonia lagoon

International audienceFluorescence, polarographic and potentiometric analysis of sea water from the New Caledonia lagoon (located south of Noumea) allowed the determination of the specific properties of the dissolved and particulate phases of organic matter (OM)-metal complexes according to various regions of the lagoon. In particular, OM complexes with Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd were chosen in this study due to the sensitivity of these complexes to affect biocenosis of the nearby enclosed coral reef as well as their availability to enter the coast from erosion (terrigenous OM) or human activities from nickel extraction or pollution from waste sites (anthopogenic OM) that exist throughout New Caledonia. Combined with geochemical modelling, the OM-metal complexes analysis allowed the determination of their conditional stability constants which in turn helped in predicting the fate of the metal pollution in the lagoon. For the first time, fluorescence, polarographic and potentiometric techniques combined with geochemical models that employed discrete pKa distribution on OM enabled the determination of the origin of the OM, as either natural or anthopogenic