pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonic thermometry simulation in a random fluctuating medium: Evidence of the acoustic signature of a one-percent temperature difference

International audienceWe study the development potential of ultrasonic thermometry in a liquid fluctuating sodium environment similar to that present in a Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor, and thus investigate if and how ultrasonic thermometry could be used to monitor the sodium flow at the outlet of the reactor core. In particular we study if small temperature variations in the sodium flow of e.g. about 1% of the sodium temperature, i.e., about 5°C, can have a reliably-measurable acoustic signature. Since to our knowledge no experimental setups are available for such a study, and considering the practical difficulties of experimentation in sodium, we resort to a numerical technique for full wave propagation called the spectral-element method, which is a highly accurate finite-element method owing to the high-degree basis functions it uses. We obtain clear time-of-flight variations in the case of a small temperature difference of one percent in the case of a static temperature gradient as well as in the presence of a random fluctuation of the temperature field in the turbulent flow. The numerical simulations underline the potential of ultrasonic thermometry in such a context
LISA Pathfinder data analysis

International audienceAs the launch of LISA Pathfinder draws near, more and more effort is being put in to the preparation of the data analysis activities that will be carried out during the mission operations. The operations phase of the mission will be composed of a series of experiments that will be carried out on the satellite. These experiments will be directed and analysed by the data analysis team, which is part of the operations team. The operations phase will last about 90 days, during which time the data analysis team aims to fully characterise the LISA Pathfinder satellite, and in particular, its core instrument the LISA Technology Package. By analysing the various couplings present in the system, the different noise sources that will disturb the system, and through the identification of the key physical parameters of the system, a detailed noise budget of the instrument will be constructed that will allow the performance of the different subsystems to be assessed and projected towards LISA. This paper describes the various aspects of the full data analysis chain that are needed to successfully characterise LPF and build up the noise budget during mission operations
Influence of an urban canopy model and PBL schemes on vertical mixing for air quality modeling over Greater Paris

International audienceImpacts of meteorological modeling in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and urban canopy model (UCM) on the vertical mixing of pollutants are studied. Concentrations of gaseous chemical species, including ozone (O<sub>3</sub>) and nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>), and particulate matter over Paris and the near suburbs are simulated using the 3-dimensional chemistry-transport model Polair3D of the Polyphemus platform. Simulated concentrations of O<sub>3</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub> and PM10/PM2.5 (particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter lower than 10 μm/2.5 μm, respectively) are first evaluated using ground measurements. Higher surface concentrations are obtained for PM10, PM2.5 and NO<sub>2</sub> with the MYNN PBL scheme than the YSU PBL scheme because of lower PBL heights in the MYNN scheme. Differences between simulations using different PBL schemes are lower than differences between simulations with and without the UCM and the Corine land-use over urban areas. Regarding the root mean square error, the simulations using the UCM and the Corine land-use tend to perform better than the simulations without it. At urban stations, the PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations are over-estimated and the over-estimation is reduced using the UCM and the Corine land-use. The ability of the model to reproduce vertical mixing is evaluated using NO<sub>2</sub> measurement data at the upper air observation station of the Eiffel Tower, and measurement data at a ground station near the Eiffel Tower. Although NO<sub>2</sub> is under-estimated in all simulations, vertical mixing is greatly improved when using the UCM and the Corine land-use. Comparisons of the modeled PM10 vertical distributions to distributions deduced from surface and mobile lidar measurements are performed. The use of the UCM and the Corine land-use is crucial to accurately model PM10 concentrations during nighttime in the center of Paris. In the nocturnal stable boundary layer, PM10 is relatively well modeled, although it is over-estimated on 24 May and under-estimated on 25 May. However, PM10 is under-estimated on both days in the residual layer, and over-estimated on both days over the residual layer. The under-estimations in the residual layer are partly due to difficulties to estimate the PBL height, to an over-estimation of vertical mixing during nighttime at high altitudes and to uncertainties in PM10 emissions. The PBL schemes and the UCM influence the PM vertical distributions not only because they influence vertical mixing (PBL height and eddy-diffusion coefficient), but also horizontal wind fields and humidity. However, for the UCM, it is the influence on vertical mixing that impacts the most the PM10 vertical distribution below 1.5 km
Modelling exchange kinetics of copper at the water-aquatic moss (Fontinalis antipyretica) interface: Influence of water cationic composition (Ca, Mg, Na and pH)

International audiencea b s t r a c t The present study investigated the effect of water cationic composition (Ca, Mg, Na, pH) on the bioaccu-mulation and elimination rates of copper by an aquatic moss (Fontinalis antipyretica), under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, mosses were exposed to copper at an environmentally relevant and usually non-toxic concentration (5 lg L À1) in natural waters where cationic composition and concentrations were varied. To describe copper bioaccumulation by aquatic mosses, a two-compartment model was the first-order kinetics, was developed and calibrated under a wide range of water cationic composition. Bioaccumula-tion rates of Cu in mosses were significantly reduced as the concentrations of competitive cations in solu-tion increased. Hence, in hard-water, Ca and Mg cations play a protective role as they compete with Cu 2+ ions for the absorption on transport sites at the organism–water interface. Based on the relationships between each major cation concentration and the exchange kinetics on mosses, the binding constants (K C i BL) of each competing cations to the biological surfaces were derived. Using the present cationic-dependant kinetic model, it is now feasible to incorporate water cationic composition in the (re)interpre-tation of bryophytes contamination levels and in the (re)definition of Water Quality Criteria (WQC) as illustrated through two selected examples of biomonitoring programmes. In the framework of future national water quality guidelines revisions, a such flexible and mechanistic biomonitoring tool (integrat-ing the protective effects of competing cations) may greatly improve the ability of regulators to derive site-specific Cu (metal) guidelines for protecting aquatic biota, while limiting the use of conservative assumptions
Palaeoflood activity and climate change over the last 1400 years recorded by lake sediments in the north-west European Alps

International audienceA high-resolution sedimentological and geochemical study of a high-altitude proglacial lake (Lake Blanc, Aiguilles Rouges, 2352m a.s.l.) revealed 195 turbidites, 190 of which are related to flood events over the last 1400 years. We used the coarsest sediment fraction of each turbidite as a proxy for the intensity of each flood event. Because most flood events at this locality are triggered by localized summer convective precipitation events, the reconstructed sedimentary record reveals changes in the frequency and intensity of such events over the last millennium. Comparisons with other temperature, palaeohydrological and glacier reconstructions in the region suggest that the most intense events occurred during the warmest periods, i.e. during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (AD 800-1300) and the current period of global warming. On a multi-decadal time scale, almost all the flood frequency peaks seem to correspond to warmer periods, whereas multi-centennial variations in flood frequency appear to follow the regional precipitation pattern. Consequently, this new Alpine flood record provides further evidence of a link between climate warming and an increase in the frequency and intensity of flooding on a multidecadal time scale, whereas the centennial variability in flood frequencies is related to regional precipitation patterns
Detrital zircon records of Late Cretaceous syn-rift sedimentary sequences of New Caledonia: an Australian provenance questioned

International audienceThe Late Cretaceous clastic coastal sediments of New Caledonia are contemporaneous with the latest stages of the eastern Australian marginal rifting. As such, they record the erosion of basement terranes located on uplifted and tilted blocks and a contemporaneous volcanic activity. Detrital zircon populations contain two major components, the younger of which is Early Cretaceous, and the older Early Paleozoic and Precambrian. Following recent advances in the knowledge of detrital zircon content of basement terranes, and at variance with previous interpretations, that hypothesised a possible direct Australian provenance for Precambrian zircons, the detrital zircon record of these syn-rift sediments allows a local recycled provenance to be established. In consequence, this new evidence confirms that New Caledonia was already isolated from Australia as early as Coniacian time (ca. 89-85 Ma) a fact consistent with the development of faunal and floral endemism at that period. The prominent abundance of Early Cretaceous detrital zircons also establishes the importance of a previously unrecorded Early Cretaceous magmatism in the area
Noble gas solubilities in silicate melts: New experimental results and a comprehensive model of the effects of liquid composition, temperature and pressure

International audienceNew experimental data of Ar and Ne solubility at pressures up to 360 MPa in alkali-basaltic (Mt. Etna, Italy) and rhyolitic (Vulcano Island, Italy) melts are presented. Solubility experiments have been conducted in internally heated pressure vessels at 1200 °C under nominally anhydrous conditions. Ar and Ne contents dissolved in the experimental glasses were then measured by quadrupole mass spectrometry. Over the pressure range investigated, Ar and Ne solubilities vary linearly with Ar and Ne pressures and can be described by Henry's constant (kAr,Ne = PAr, Ne / xAr, Ne, where PAr, Ne is the partial pressure of Ar or Ne and xAr, Ne is the molar fraction of Ar or Ne in the melt) of 7.6 ± 0.8 × 105 and 1.9 ± 0.4 × 105 MPa, respectively for Ar and Ne in the basaltic melt and 1.5 ± 0.2 × 105 and 3.8 ± 0.2 × 104 MPa, respectively for Ar and Ne in the rhyolitic melt. In accordance with existing models, rhyolitic melts show higher noble gas solubilities than basaltic melts, Ne solubility being higher than that of Ar in a given composition. We propose a semi-empirical model of noble gas (Ar, Ne and He) solubility calibrated on a very large set of measurements in natural and synthetic silicate melts. The model expands the concept of ionic porosity in terms of porosity accessible for noble gas dissolution in melt, taking into account the large-scale structural effects of cations, as well as temperature and pressure. The model is valid over a wide range of temperatures (800–1600 °C), pressures (up to 3 GPa) and compositions, being useful for both geological and physico-chemical studies
North-South Standards Harmonization and International Trade

International audienceRecent years have seen a surge in economic integration agreements (EIAs) and the development of non-tariff measures (NTMs). As a consequence, a growing number of EIAs include provisions on NTMs. However, little attention has been given in the literature to the effects of NTM liberalization in the context of EIAs. In this paper, we focus on provisions for technical regulations and analyze whether the North-South harmonization of technical barriers affects international trade. Using a gravity equation, we test whether, as a result of the deep integration associated with standards provisions included in the EIA, the Southern partners' trade expands with the North, but at the expense of their trade with non-bloc Southern partners. Empirical results provide strong support for this conjecture. Moreover, harmonization on the basis of regional standards negatively impacts the exports of developing countries to the North
Identification and mapping of natural vegetation on a coastal site using a Worldview-2 satellite image

International audienceIdentification and mapping of natural vegetation are major issues for biodiversity management and conservation. Remotely sensed data with very high spatial resolution are currently used to study vegetation, but most satellite sensors are limited to four spectral bands, which is insufficient to identify some natural vegetation formations. The study objectives are to discriminate natural vegetation and identify natural vegetation formations using a Worldview-2 satellite image. The classification of the Worldview-2 image and ancillary thematic data was performed using a hybrid pixel-based and objectoriented approach. A hierarchical scheme using three levels was implemented, from land cover at a field scale to vegetation formation. This method was applied on a 48 km2 site located on the French Atlantic coast which includes a classified NATURA 2000 dune and marsh system. The classification accuracy was very high, the Kappa index varying between 0.90 and 0.74 at land cover and vegetation formation levels respectively. These results show that Wordlview-2 images are suitable to identify natural vegetation. Vegetation maps derived from Worldview-2 images are more detailed than existing ones. They provide a useful medium for environmental management of vulnerable areas. The approach used to map natural vegetation is reproducible for a wider application by environmental managers
A trifocal transfer based virtual microscope for robotic manipulation of MEMS components.

International audienceThe paper deals with the problem of imaging at the microscale. The trifocal transfer based novel view synthesis approach is developed and applied to the images from two photon microscopes mounted in a stereoscopic configuration and observing vertically the work scene. The final result is a lateral virtual microscope working up to 6 frames per second with a resolution up to that of the real microscopes. Visual feedback, accurate measurements and control have been performed with, showing it ability to be used for robotic manipulation of MEMS parts. Keywords: Novel view synthesis, trifocal tensor, photon microscope, microassembly, micromanipulation, MEMS
Size-dependent infrared properties of MgO nanoparticles with evidence of screening effect

We have investigated the infrared (IR) absorption properties of MgO nanoparticles (NPs) with the means of molecular dynamics simulations. Several size effects have been observed. We show in particular that the absorption of IR radiation does not occur predominantly through the polariton mode but preferentially through surface modes. This enhanced surface absorption is found to result from the absence of dielectric screening of the first atomic layer of the NPs. We demonstrate concomitantly that a macroscopic description of electrodynamics is inadequate to capture these unusual IR properties
Global supply of biomass for energy and carbon sequestration from afforestation/reforestation activities

In this paper we provide an analytical framework to estimate  the joint production of biomass and carbon sequestration from afforestation and reforestation activities. The analysis is based on geographical explicit information on a half-degree resolution. For each grid-cell the model estimates forest growth using a global vegetation model and chooses forest management rules. Land prices, cost of forest production and harvesting are determined as a function of grid specific site productivity, population density and estimates of economic wealth. The sensitivity of the results due to scenario storylines is assessed using different population and economic growth assumptions, which are consistent with B1 and A2 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emission Scenarios (IPCC-SRES) marker scenarios. Considerable differences in the economic supply schedules are found. However, technical potentials seem to converge given constancy in other underlying assumptions of the model
Simultaneous adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetric determination of Nickel(II) and Cobalt(II) at the in-situ bismuth-modified gold electrode

A study on the simultaneous determination of Ni(II) and Co(II) dimethylglyoximates (Ni-DMG and Co-DMG)
through adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry at an in situ bismuth-modified gold electrode (Bi-AuE) is reported.
The key operational parameters, such as Bi(III) concentration, accumulation potential and accumulation time
were optimized and the morphology of the Bi-microcrystals deposited on the Au-electrode was studied. The Bi-
AuE allowed convenient analysis of trace concentrations of solely Ni(II) or of Ni(II) and Co(II) together, with
cathodic stripping voltammograms characterized by well-separated stripping peaks. The calculated limit of detection
(LOD) was 40 ngL1 for Ni(II) alone, whereas the LOD was 98 ngL1 for Ni(II) and 58 ngL1 for Co(II), when
both metal ions were measured together. The optimized method was finally applied to the analysis of certified
spring water (NIST1640a) and of natural water sampled in the Lagoon of Venice. The results obtained with the Bi-
AuE were in satisfactory agreement with the certified values and with those provided by complementary techniques,
i.e., ICP-OES and ICP-MS
Congenital-idiopathic superficial femoral artery aneurysm in a 7-year-old child

Superficial femoral artery aneurysm in children is distinctly uncommon, and usually results from infection, vasculitis, connective tissue disorder, or trauma. We report a 7-year-old girl who had multiple fusiform aneurysms of the right superficial femoral artery, with no evidence of related disorders. The patient successfully underwent aneurysm resection and femoral artery reconstruction with autogenous saphenous vein. Histologic examination revealed intimal thickening with fibroplasia without severe inflammatory infiltrates or cystic medial necrosis, suggesting a congenital-idiopathic arterial aneurysm. Three years after the procedure, the saphenous vein graft is fully patent and the patient is in good condition
Studying the International Crisis Group

Bliesemann DeGuevara, B. (2014). Studying the International Crisis Group. Third World Quarterly, 35 (4), 545-56This special issue studies the International Crisis Group (icg), one of the most notable and widely referenced producers of knowledge about conflict areas, used extensively by policy makers, the media and academics. The authors take different theoretical and methodological approaches to make sense of this hard-to-ignore conflict expert, exploring the icg?s daily operations and role in international politics. This introduction sets the scene by offering a critical exploration of the organisation and its approach to the construction of political knowledge. It analyses the icg?s position in the conflict-related knowledge market and the sources of its expert authority. It then discusses the organisation?s roles ? from mediation to instrumentalisation ? in the ?battlefield of ideas? in conflict and intervention contexts and its potential to make an impact on policy framings and outcomes. It shows that studies of the icg need to ?unpack? the organisation in order to account for it as both a highly successful international expert brand and a very heterogeneous actor in specific contexts and at specific times.authorsversionPeer reviewe
Identification of Gene Mutations and Fusion Genes in Patients with Sézary Syndrome

Sézary syndrome is a leukemic form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with an aggressive clinical course. The genetic etiology of the disease is poorly understood, with chromosomal abnormalities and mutations in some genes being involved in the disease. The goal of our study was to understand the genetic basis of the disease by looking for driver gene mutations and fusion genes in 15 erythrodermic patients with circulating Sézary cells, 14 of them fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of Sézary syndrome. We have discovered genes that could be involved in the pathogenesis of Sézary syndrome. Some of the genes that are affected by somatic point mutations include ITPR1, ITPR2, DSC1, RIPK2, IL6, and RAG2, with some of them mutated in more than one patient. We observed several somatic copy number variations shared between patients, including deletions and duplications of large segments of chromosome 17. Genes with potential function in the T-cell receptor signaling pathway and tumorigenesis were disrupted in Sézary syndrome patients, for example, CBLB, RASA2, BCL7C, RAMP3, TBRG4, and DAD1. Furthermore, we discovered several fusion events of interest involving RASA2, NFKB2, BCR, FASN, ZEB1, TYK2, and SGMS1. Our work has implications for the development of potential therapeutic approaches for this aggressive disease
Antigen-Specific CD4 Cells Assist CD8 T-Effector Cells in Eliminating Keratinocytes

Keratinocytes expressing tumor or viral antigens can be eliminated by antigen-primed CD8 cytotoxic T cells. CD4 T-helper cells help induction of CD8 cytotoxic T cells from naive precursors and generation of CD8 T-cell memory. In this study, we show, unexpectedly, that CD4 cells are also required to assist primed CD8 effector T cells in rejection of skin expressing human growth hormone, a neo-self-antigen, in keratinocytes. The requirement for CD4 cells can be substituted by CD40 costimulation. Rejection of skin expressing ovalbumin (OVA), a non-self-antigen, by primed CD8 cytotoxic T cells can in contrast occur without help from antigen-specific CD4 T cells. However, rejection of OVA expressing keratinocytes is helped by antigen-specific CD4 T cells if only low numbers of primed or naive OVA-specific CD8 T cells are available. Effective immunotherapy directed at antigens expressed in squamous cancer may therefore be facilitated by induction of tumor antigen-specific CD4 helper T cells, as well as cytotoxic CD8 T cells
X Chromosome Inactivation Is Initiated in Human Preimplantation Embryos

X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is the mammalian mechanism that compensates for the difference in gene dosage between XX females and XY males. Genetic and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms induce transcriptional silencing of one X chromosome in female cells. In mouse embryos, XCI is initiated at the preimplantation stage following early whole-genome activation. It is widely thought that human embryos do not employ XCI prior to implantation. Here, we show that female preimplantation embryos have a progressive accumulation of XIST RNA on one of the two X chromosomes, starting around the 8-cell stage. XIST RNA accumulates at the morula and blastocyst stages and is associated with transcriptional silencing of the XIST-coated chromosomal region. These findings indicate that XCI is initiated in female human preimplantation-stage embryos and suggest that preimplantation dosage compensation is evolutionarily conserved in placental mammals