pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Survival curves of heated bacterial spores: effect of environmental factors on Weibull parameters

International audienceThe classical D-value of first order inactivation kinetic is not suitable for quantifying bacterial heat resistance for non-log linear survival curves. One simple model derived from the Weibull cumulative function describes non-log linear kinetics of micro-organisms. The influences of environmental factors on Weibull model parameters, shape parameter "p" and scale parameter "delta", were studied. This paper points out structural correlation between these two parameters. The environmental heating and recovery conditions do not present clear and regular influence on the shape the parameter "p" and could not be described by any model tried. Conversely, the scale parameter "delta" depends on heating temperature and heating and recovery medium pH. The models established to quantify these influences on the classical "D" values could be applied to this parameter "delta". The slight influence of the shape parameter p variation on the goodness of fit of these models can be neglected and the simplified Weibull model with a constant p-value for given microbial population can be applied for canning process calculations
Biological organisation as closure of constraints.

International audienceWe propose a conceptual and formal characterisation of biological organisation as a closure of constraints. We first establish a distinction between two causal regimes at work in biological systems: processes, which refer to the whole set of changes occurring in non-equilibrium open thermodynamic conditions; and constraints, those entities which, while acting upon the processes, exhibit some form of conservation (symmetry) at the relevant time scales. We then argue that, in biological systems, constraints realise closure, i.e. mutual dependence such that they both depend on and contribute to maintaining each other. With this characterisation in hand, we discuss how organisational closure can provide an operational tool for marking the boundaries between interacting biological systems. We conclude by focusing on the original conception of the relationship between stability and variation which emerges from this framework
Organisation of carbon nanotubes and semiconductor nanowires using lateral alumina templates

International audienceCarbon nanotubes and semiconductor nanowires have been thoroughly studied for the future replacement of silicon-based com- plementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices and circuits. However, the organisation of these nanomaterials in dense transistor arrays, where each device is capable of delivering drive currents comparable with those of their silicon counterparts is still a big challenge. Here, we present a novel approach to the organisation of carbon nanotubes and semiconductor nanowires, based on the use of porous lateral alumina templates obtained by the controlled anodic oxidation of aluminium thin films. We discuss the growth of nanomaterials inside the pores of such templates and show the feasibility of our approach. Our first results point to further work on controlling the synthesis of catalyst nanoparticles at the bottom of the pores, these particles being necessary to nucleate and sustain the growth of carbon nanotubes or semiconductor nanowires
Oxidation state variation under beta-irradiation in an iron-bearing soda lime glass system

International audienceThe effect of ionizing radiation on glasses in the system SiO2-CaO-Na2O-Fe2O3 is investigated as a function of iron concentration or / and irradiation dose by a pre-edge analysis at the iron K-edge. While reduction phenomenon is clearly observed for large irradiation doses (5 C), the effect of irradiation for intermediate doses is more challenging to interpret. Comparison between X-ray absorption measurements, colorimetry results and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance measurements suggest that iron environment may be modified without the ions being reduced
Generating operation specifications from UML class diagrams: A model transformation approach

International audienceOne of the more tedious and complex tasks during the specification of conceptual schemas (CSs) is modeling the operations that define the system behavior. This paper aims to simplify this task by providing a method that automatically generates a set of basic operations that complement the static aspects of the CS and suffice to perform all typical life-cycle create/update/delete changes on the population of the elements of the CS. Our method guarantees that the generated operations are executable, i.e. their executions produce a consistent state wrt the most typical structural constraints that can be defined in CSs (e.g. multiplicity constraints). In particular, our method takes as input a CS expressed as a Unified Modeling Language (UML) class diagram (optionally defined using a profile to enrich the specification of associations) and generates an extended version of the CS that includes all necessary operations to start operating the system. If desired, these basic operations can be later used as building blocks for creating more complex ones. We show the formalization and implementation of our method by means of model-to-model transformations. Our approach is particularly relevant in the context of Model Driven Development approaches
Attack of molecular iodine to novel palladacyclopentadienyl complexes bearing isocyanides as spectator ligands. A computational and mechanistic study

We have synthesized some palladacyclopentadienyl complexes bearing 2,6-dimethylbenzo-, 2- tosylaceto- and t-butyl-isocyanides (DIC, TOSMIC and TIC, respectively) as spectator ligands. The oxidative addition of I2 to the DIC derivatives yielded complexes bearing iodine, the butadienyl fragment s-coordinated, and the isocyanides in mutual trans position as final species. On the basis of a kinetic study carried out by means of UVevis and 1H NMR techniques we have proposed a plausible mechanism which is in accord with a computational investigation done by other authors on similar compounds and confirmed by a computational approach we have performed. The proposed mechanism suggests the formation of a Pd(IV) octahedral intermediate complex bearing two iodines in meridional position. The latter yields another intermediate complex bearing iodine, the open butadienyl fragment s-coordinated, and the isocyanides cis to each other which eventually isomerizes to the final trans product. The reaction rates related to the formation of the cis derivatives (k1) and to the isomerization process k'1 were determined as refined parameters of the non linear regression analysis of the monoexponential rela- tionship which is a function of the UVevis spectral changes and time
Does the bank risk concentration freeze the interbank system?

Probably, one test of the stability of the banking system is to evaluate how risky assets are distributed across banks’ portfolios and the implications for the contagion via interbank relations. This paper explores theoretically a bank sector with risks concentration and the functioning of interbank markets. It employs a simple model where banks are exposed to both credit and liquidity risk that suddenly correlate over the business cycle. We show that risk concentration makes interbank market breakdowns more likely and welfare monotonically decreases in risk concentration
Collected world experience about the performance of the snorkel/chimney endovascular technique in the treatment of complex aortic pathologies: The PERICLES registry

Objectives: We sought to analyze the collected worldwide experience with use of snorkel/chimney endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for complex abdominal aneurysm treatment. Background: EVAR has largely replaced open surgery worldwide for anatomically suitable aortic aneurysms. Lack of availability of fenestrated and branched devices has encouraged an alternative strategy utilizing parallel or snorkel/chimney grafts (ch-EVAR). Methods: Clinical and radiographic information was retrospectively reviewed and analyzed on 517 patients treated by ch-EVAR from 2008 from 2014 by prearranged defined and documented protocols. Results: A total of 119 patients in US centers and 398 in European centers were treated during the study period. US centers preferentially used Zenith stent-grafts (54.2%) and European centers Endurant stent-grafts (62.2%) for the main body component. Overall 898 chimney grafts (49.2% balloon expandable, 39.6% self-expanding covered stents, and 11.2% balloon expandable bare metal stents) were placed in 692 renal arteries, 156 superior mesenteric arteries (SMA), and 50 celiac arteries. At a mean follow-up of 17.1 months (range: 1-70 months), primary patency was 94%, with secondary patency of 95.3%. Overall survival of patients in this high-risk cohort for open repair at latest follow-up was 79%. Conclusions: This global experience represents the largest series in the ch-EVAR literature and demonstrates comparable outcomes to those in published reports of branched/fenestrated devices, suggesting the appropriateness of broader applicability and the need for continued careful surveillance. These results support ch-EVAR as a valid off-the-shelf and immediately available alternative in the treatment of complex abdominal EVAR and provide impetus for the standardization of these techniques in the future
Words in the mirror
 : 
Analysing the sensorimotor interface between phonetics and semantics in Italian

International audienceThis paper proposes a theoretical, methodological and descriptive framework for combining a gestural-mimetic theory of the sign with the principle of arbitrariness. First, it draws attention to the history of the question, discusses its theoretical core and presents a method to analyse the relationship between the differential system of phono-articulatory signifiers and the differential system of logical-semantic signifieds. In section 2, this method is tested on the Italian grammatical monosyllables, focusing on a complete description of the words formed from one phoneme (‘monophonemes’), of the words distinguishing grammatical persons and of the adverbial pairs. The main result is that phono-articulatory oppositions (such as [open : closed] and [front : back]) can be systematically described as images of logical-semantic oppositions (such as {complex : simple} and {positive : negative}, respectively). In section 3, a number of conclusions are drawn, particularly about the difference between linguistic ‘values’ and psychological ‘concepts’
Maximum probability domains for Hubbard models

The theory of maximum probability domains (MPDs) is formulated for the Hubbard model in terms of projection operators and generating functions for both exact eigenstates as well as Slater determinants. A fast MPD analysis procedure is proposed, which is subsequently used to analyse numerical results for the Hubbard model. It is shown that the essential physics behind the considered Hubbard models can be exposed using MPDs. Furthermore, the MPDs appear to be in line with what is expected from Valence Bond (VB) Theory-based knowledge
Automatic recognition of regional phonological variation in conversational interaction

International audienceOne key aspect of face-to-face communication concerns the differences that may exist between speakers' native regional accents. This paper focuses on the characterization of regional phonological variation in a conversational setting. A new, interactive task was designed in which 12 pairs of participants engaged in a collaborative game leading them to produce a number of purpose-built names. In each game, the participants were native speakers of Southern French and Northern French, respectively. How the names were produced by each of the two participants was automatically determined from the recordings using ASR techniques and a pre-established set of possible regional variants along five phonolo-gical dimensions. A naive Bayes classifier was then applied to these phonetic forms, with a view to differentiating the speakers' native regional accents. The results showed that native regional accent was correctly recognized for 79% of the speakers. These results also revealed or confirmed the existence of accent-dependent differences in how segments are phonetically realized, such as the affrication of /d/ in /di/ sequences. Our data allow us to better characterize the phonological and phonetic patterns associated with regional varieties of French on a large scale and in a natural, interactional situation
Stress Intensity Factor of an Arbitrarily Located Circumferential Crack in a Thin-Walled Cylinder with Axisymmetrically Loaded Ends

Simplified method to approximately calculate the stress intensity factor of a circumferential crack in a thin-walled cylinder with ends subjected to axisymmetric radial and bending loads was developed, based on the theory of cylindrical shell and method similar to Rice and Levy’s line spring method. The effects of cylinder length and crack location on the value can be evaluated by the method. The numerical results for the problem with the ends subjected to a pair of axisymmetric bending loads showed the necessity to consider the effects of cylinder length and crack location on the stress intensity factor for the problem. (100 words
Spin Configuration in the 1/3 Magnetization Plateau of Azurite Determined by NMR

High magnetic field ^<63,65>Cu NMR spectra were used to determine the local spin polarization in the 1/3
magnetization plateau of azurite, Cu_3
(CO_3)_2(OH)_2, which is a model system for the distorted diamond
antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 chain. The spin part of the hyperfine field of the Cu2 (dimer) sites is found to
be field independent, negative and strongly anisotropic, corresponding to ~10% of fully polarized spin in
a d orbital. This is close to the expected configuration of the quantum plateau, where a singlet state is
stabilized on the dimer. However, the observed nonzero spin polarization points to some triplet admixture,
induced by strong asymmetry of the diamond bonds J_1 and J_3
Field-dependent nonlinear luminescence response of (In,Ga)N/GaN quantum wells

We have investigated the electric-field- and excitation-density-induced variation of the optical transition energy and cathodoluminescence (CL) as well as photoluminescence intensity of a single (In,Ga)N/GaN quantum well deposited in the depletion region of a p-n junction. The electric-field dependence of the transition energy is significantly influenced by field screening in the depletion region due to the excited carriers and by filling of band tail states of localized excitons. The electric-field dependence of the CL intensity is characterized by an abrupt and strong quenching mainly due to drift of excited carriers in the depletion region. A gradual screening of the p-n junction field with increasing excitation density causes a strongly nonlinear CL response. We describe this nonlinear behavior theoretically by a rate equation model
Suitable Algorithm Associated with a Parameterization for the Three-Parameter Log-Normal Distribution

Associated with a parameterization for the three-parameter lognormal distribution, an algorithm was proposed by Komori and Hirose, which can find a local maximum likelihood (ML) estimate surely if it exists. Nevertheless, by Vera and Díaz-García it was shown that performance in finding a local ML estimate deteriorated by adopting the parameterization only and using other algorithm. In the present article, it will be shown that Komori and Hirose’s algorithm should be used for the parameterization. This work will also give MATLAB codes as a useful tool for the parameter estimation of the distribution
Echogenicity as a surrogate for bioresorbable everolimus-eluting scaffold degradation: analysis at 1-, 3-, 6-, 12- 18, 24-, 30-, 36- and 42-month follow-up in a porcine model

The objective of the study is to validate intravascular quantitative echogenicity as a surrogate for molecular weight assessment of poly-l-lactide-acid (PLLA) bioresorbable scaffold (Absorb BVS, Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California). We analyzed at 9 time points (from 1- to 42-month follow-up) a population of 40 pigs that received 97 Absorb scaffolds. The treated regions were analyzed by echogenicity using adventitia as reference, and were categorized as more (hyperechogenic or upperechogenic) or less bright (hypoechogenic) than the reference. The volumes of echogenicity categories were correlated with the measurements of molecular weight (Mw) by gel permeation chromatography. Scaffold struts appeared as high echogenic structures. The quantification of grey level intensity in the scaffold-vessel compartment had strong correlation with the scaffold Mw: hyperechogenicity (correlation coefficient = 0.75; P < 0.01), upperechogenicity (correlation coefficient = 0.63; P < 0.01) and hyper + upperechogenicity (correlation coefficient = 0.78; P < 0.01). In the linear regression, the R2 for high echogenicity and Mw was 0.57 for the combination of hyper and upper echogenicity. IVUS high intensity grey level quantification is correlated to Absorb BVS residual molecular weight and can be used as a surrogate for the monitoring of the degradation of semi-crystalline polymers scaffolds
The Effect of Slamming Impact on Out-of-Autoclave Cured Prepregs of GFRP Composite Panels for Hulls

This paper proposes a methodology that employs an experimental apparatus that reproduces, in pre-impregnated and cured out-of-autoclave Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) panels, the phenomenon of slamming or impact on the bottom of a high-speed boat during planing. The pressure limits in the simulation are defined by employing a finite element model (FEM) that evaluates the forces applied by the cam that hits the panels in the apparatus via microdeformations obtained in the simulation. The methodology requires that various impact series be performed at different energies and that the evolution of the damage be followed via immersion ultrasound inspection to quantify how the material behaves, in addition to evaluating the delamination process via penetrating dyes using UV radiation. Slamming impacts were performed on the order of 105, and the micromechanisms of interlaminar and intralaminar damage propagation were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results were analyzed by correlating them with pressure, deformation, impact energy, and applied cycles, in addition to conducting compression experiments after impact to relate the material damage with the residual strength of the impacted panels
Repetitive sequence variation and dynamics in the ribosomal DNA array of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as revealed by whole-genome resequencing

Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) plays a key role in ribosome biogenesis, encoding genes for the structural RNA components of this important cellular organelle. These genes are vital for efficient functioning of the cellular protein synthesis machinery and as such are highly conserved and normally present in high copy numbers. In the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, there are more than 100 rDNA repeats located at a single locus on chromosome XII. Stability and sequence homogeneity of the rDNA array is essential for function, and this is achieved primarily by the mechanism of gene conversion. Detecting variation within these arrays is extremely problematic due to their large size and repetitive structure. In an attempt to address this, we have analyzed over 35 Mbp of rDNA sequence obtained from whole-genome shotgun sequencing (WGSS) of 34 strains of S. cerevisiae. Contrary to expectation, we find significant rDNA sequence variation exists within individual genomes. Many of the detected polymorphisms are not fully resolved. For this type of sequence variation, we introduce the term partial single nucleotide polymorphism, or pSNP. Comparative analysis of the complete data set reveals that different S. cerevisiae genomes possess different patterns of rDNA polymorphism, with much of the variation located within the rapidly evolving nontranscribed intergenic spacer (IGS) region. Furthermore, we find that strains known to have either structured or mosaic/hybrid genomes can be distinguished from one another based on rDNA pSNP number, indicating that pSNP dynamics may provide a reliable new measure of genome origin and stability
Gauge Symmetry Breaking in Gauge Theories---In Search of Clarification

The paper investigates the spontaneous breaking of gauge symmetries in gauge theories from a philosophical angle, taking into account the fact that the notion of a spontaneously broken local gauge symmetry, though widely employed in textbook expositions of the Higgs mechanism, is\ud
not supported by our leading theoretical frameworks of gauge quantum theories. In the context of lattice gauge theory, the statement that local gauge symmetry cannot be spontaneously broken can even be made rigorous in the form of Elitzur’s theorem. Nevertheless, gauge symmetry breaking does occur in gauge quantum field theories in the form of the breaking of remnant subgroups of the original local gauge group under which the theories typically remain invariant after gauge fixing. The paper discusses the relation between these instances of symmetry breaking and phase transitions and draws some more general conclusions for the philosophical interpretation of gauge symmetries and their breaking.\u
Multispectral images of peach related to firmness and maturity at harvest

wo multispectral maturity classifications for red soft-flesh peaches (‘Kingcrest’, ‘Rubyrich’ and ‘Richlady’ n = 260) are proposed and compared based on R (red) and R/IR (red divided by infrared) images obtained with a three CCD camera (800 nm, 675 nm and 450 nm). R/IR histograms were able to correct the effect of 3D shape on light reflectance and thus more Gaussian histograms were produced than R images. As fruits ripened, the R/IR histograms showed increasing levels of intensity. Reference measurements such as firmness and visible spectra also varied significantly as the fruit ripens, firmness decreased while reflectance at 680 nm increased (chlorophyll absorption peak)
A Spectroscopic study of laser-induced Tin-Lead plasma: transition probabilities for spectral lines of Sn I

In this paper, we present transition probabilities for 97 spectral lines of Sn I, corresponding to transitions n(n = 6,7,8)s → 5p2, n(n = 5,6,7)d → 5p2, 5p3 → 5p2, n(n = 7)p → 6s, determined by measuring the intensities of the emission lines of a Laser-induced breakdown (emission) spectrometry (LIBS). The optical emission spectroscopy from a laser-induced plasma generated by a 10 640 Å radiation, with an irradiance of 1.4 × 1010 Wcm− 2 on an Sn–Pb alloy (an Sn content of approximately 20%), in vacuum, was recorded at 0.8 µs, and analysed between 1900 and 7000 Å. The population-level distribution and corresponding temperature were obtained using Boltzmann plots. The electron density of the plasma was determined using well-known Stark broadening parameters of spectral lines. The plasma under study had an electron temperature of 13,200 K and an electron number density of 2 × 1016 cm− 3. The experimental relative transition probabilities were put on an absolute scale using the branching ratio method to calculate Sn I multiplet transition probabilities from available radiative lifetime data of their upper states and plotting the Sn I emission spectrum lines on a Boltzmann plot assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) to be valid and following Boltzmann's law. The LTE conditions and plasma homogeneity have been checked. Special attention was paid to the possible self-absorption of the different transitions. The experimental results obtained have been compared with the experimental values given by other authors