pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
In-situ X-ray microtomography characterization of damage in SiC/SiC minicomposites

International audienceThe purpose of the present study is to characterize matrix crack propagation and fiber breaking occurrences within SiC/SiC minicomposite in order to validate later on a multiscale damage model at the local scale. An in-situ X-ray microtomography tensile test was performed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF, ID19 beamline) in order to obtain 3-dimensional (3D) images at six successive loading levels. Results reveal a slow and discontinuous propagation of matrix cracks, even after the occurrence of matrix crack saturation. A few fiber failures were also observed. However, radiographs of the whole length (14 mm) of the minicomposites under a load and after the failure were more appropriate to get statistical data about fiber breaking. Thus, observations before the ultimate failure revealed only a few fibers breaking homogenously along the minicomposite. In addition, an increase in fiber breaking density in the vicinity of the fatal matrix crack was observed after failure. These experimental results are discussed in regards to assumptions used in usual 1-dimensional (1D) models for minicomposites
Constituent particle break-up during hot rolling of AA 5182

Article first published online: 17 DEC 2009International audienceAluminum sheet is currently used for body panels on a number of mass-produced vehicles, in particular for closure panels. AA5xxx alloys always contain coarse inter-metallic particles (Al x(Fe,Mn) ySi, Mg 2Si) after casting. In the present work inter-metallic particle break-up during hot reversible rolling of AA5182 alloy sheets has been analyzed. The sizes and shapes of inter-metallic particles in as-cast and industrially hot rolled AA5182 alloys sheets were characterized by 3D X-ray tomography observations. The relation between particle break-up and particle morphology was then analyzed statistically and by a micromechanical finite element (FE)-based model. The essential outcomes of the statistical approach may be summarized as follows. The inter-metallic particle population may be described by five morphological parameters. Secondly the comparison of the particle morphology in as cast and industrially rolled sheets leads to the definition of five classes. The evolution of each particle class as function of the rolling strain is provided. The statistical analysis shows which particles break-up. The stresses and strains in inter-metallic particles, embedded in an elasto-viscoplastic aluminum matrix submitted to plane strain compression, were analyzed by an FE model. A new failure criterion was proposed. The essential outcomes of the mechanical approach are as follows: a precise description of stress concentration mechanisms in nonconvex particles, a close description of the parameters controlling particle break-up, and finally a simplified classification of the failure behavior
GPU Implementation of Linear Morphological Openings with Arbitrary Angle

International audienceLinear morphological openings and closings are important non-linear operators from mathematical morphology. In practical applications, many different orientations of digital line segments must typically be considered. In this paper, we (1) review efficient sequential as well as parallel algorithms for the computation of linear openings and closings, (2) compare the performance of CPU implementations of four state-of-the-art algorithms, (3) describe GPU implementations of two recent efficient algorithms allowing arbitrary orientation of the line segments, (4) propose, as the main contribution, an efficient and optimized GPU implementation of linear openings, and (5) compare the performance of all implementations on real images from various applications. From our experimental results, it turned out that the proposed GPU implementation is suitable for applications with large, industrial images, running under severe timing constraints
Incremental homogenization approach for ageing viscoelastic polycrystals

An approximate self-consistent modelling is proposed to estimate the effective viscoelastic response of polycrystals presenting an ageing constitutive behaviour. This approach makes use of the equivalence between the Dirichlet series approximation of the viscoelastic functions and an internal variables formulation. An illustrative application is performed for model 2D polycrystals for which the exact expression of the continuous effective relaxation spectrum is givenInternational audienceAn approximate self-consistent modelling is proposed to estimate the effective viscoelastic response of polycrystals presenting an ageing constitutive behaviour. This approach makes use of the equivalence between the Dirichlet series approximation of the viscoelastic functions and an internal variables formulation. An illustrative application is performed for model 2D polycrystals for which the exact expression of the continuous effective relaxation spectrum is give
Calcium Phosphate Stone Morphology Can Reliably Predict Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis

International audiencePurposeCalcium stones represent 85% to 90% of all urinary calculi, including various crystalline compositions and etiological conditions. Calcium phosphate accounts for 10% to 15% of cases. These stones are mainly related to 3 groups of risk factors, including calcium or phosphate metabolism disturbance, renal acidification defects and urinary tract infection. Identifying the stone etiology often requires extensive metabolic evaluation. We assessed whether stone analysis including morphological typing in addition to stone composition could be a valuable help for diagnosis.Materials and MethodsOf 60,564 stones analyzed by morphological examination and infrared spectroscopy at our laboratory 6,439 (10.6%) were mainly composed of carbapatite. Of these stone 1,093 patients were included in study who had an available etiological diagnosis and stones containing at least 70% of calcium phosphate without struvite.ResultsOf the 1,093 calcium phosphate stones 12.8% showed a peculiar morphology termed IVa2, characterized by a smooth aspect and a glazed brown-yellow appearance with tiny cracks. IVa2 morphology was observed in 96.1% of stones associated with inherited distal renal tubular acidosis. In contrast, the other stones of similar composition but different morphology were related to distal renal tubular acidosis in only 3.9% of cases. In addition, IVa2 stones were found in 65% of calcium phosphate stone formers associated with Sjögren syndrome and in 35% of calcium phosphate stones in patients with medullary sponge kidney. These 2 conditions are related to a mild to moderate distal acidification defect.ConclusionsIdentifying IVa2 stone morphology is clinically relevant because it should prompt clinicians to search for complete or incomplete distal acidosis and initiate specific therapy to decrease recurrence
Internal structure of basalt flows: insights from magnetic and crystallographic fabrics of the La Palisse volcanics, French Massif Central

International audienceWe present a new interpretation of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) fabrics in basaltic lava flows based on the detailed study of magnetic mineralogy and silicate crystallographic fabric of a Quaternary lava flow from the French Massif Central (La Palisse). We consider the model of AMS fabric imbrication between magnetic foliation and flow surface, as initially proposed for dykes. At the two sampling sites, the concordance between the flow direction deduced from the AMS foliation and that deduced from field observations indicates that the imbrication model could apply to the lava flows. However, the flow senses inferred fromAMSare systematically opposed between the two sampling sites suggesting permutations between K1 and K3 AMS axes, a configuration referred to as inverse fabric. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements show strong lattice-preferred orientations (LPO) for plagioclase, especially the (010) plagioclase plane, which tends to be parallel to the flow. Clinopyroxene LPO remains less marked than plagioclase LPO, whereas titanomagnetite does not display a significant LPO. Comparison between magnetic and crystallographic fabrics suggests that the AMS fabric of the lava flow results from the distribution of titanomagnetite grains, which is in turn controlled by the fabric of the silicate framework. Magnetic hysteresis parameters and anisotropy of remanent magnetization (ARM) measurements exclude a significant contribution from single-domain grains, often called upon to explain inverse magnetic fabrics. The origin of the observed inverse magnetic fabric may relate to the dip of the palaeosurface, which is the only remarkable difference between the two sampling sites. AMS appears as a good tool to determine the direction of basaltic lava flows and coupling with local crystallographic fabric data provides a valuable control of relationships between magnetic fabrics and flow and thus contributes to better constrain the AMS signature of lava flows
Turbulent velocity spectra in superfluid flows

International audienceWe present velocity spectra measured in three cryogenic liquid 4He steady ﬂows: grid and wake ﬂows in a pressurized wind tunnel capable of achieving mean velocities up to 5 m/s at temperatures above and below the superﬂuid transition, down to 1.7 K, and a "chunk" turbulence ﬂow at 1.55 K, capable of sustaining mean superﬂuid velocities up to 1.3 m/s. Depending on the ﬂows, the stagnation pressure probes used for anemometry are resolving from one to two decades of the inertial regime of the turbulent cascade. We do not ﬁnd any evidence that the second order statistics of turbulence below the superﬂuid transition diﬀer from the ones of classical turbulence, above the transition
Comparison of French and Estonian students' conceptions in genetic determinism of human behaviours

International audienceInnatism is the belief that most of the human personality can be determined by genes. This ideology is dangerous, especially when it claims to be scientific. The present study investigates conceptions of 1060 students from Estonia and France related to genetic determinism of some human behaviours. Factors taken into account included students' religion, gender, parents' education level and the school curriculum. The data analysis used w2 for single comparisons but also multivariate analyses as between-class analysis and the Monte Carlo test to differentiate samples. The difference in the answers from students of the two countries is strongly significant, Estonian students' answers being more innatist and linked with more intolerant attitudes than French ones, although in both cases the majority is tolerant. For each country, very few factors differentiate students: only gender in France for the question on sexism and schools in Estonia. These findings show how sociocultural context is important for questions containing values interacting with scientific knowledge. The interpretation of the results infers significantly different trends among Estonian and French students' conceptions about the determinism of human behaviours and performances
Is the governance of the Thau coastal lagoon ready to face climate change impacts?

International audienceThe present paper provides a reflection on threats to integrated management of the Thau coastal lagoon due to climate change and the multi-scalar water scarcity adaptation strategy. This study proposes first to depict the Thau water governance assessed through a water use and social network analysis and its capacity to manage water quality. Next, this paper provides a downscaled study on the climate change impacts on the hydrological budget of the entire Thau catchment in 2041-2070 compared with the 1971-2000 reference period, a methodology developed during the CLIMB EU research program. Following local climate change impacts, the importation of a new water resource to secure water uses is presented in regards to the capacity of local water governance to maintain coherence between integrated land planning and integrated water management planning based on water quality issues of the Thau coastal lagoon. The study underlines that although the water uses are currently secured thanks to the regional transfer of water, they are not coherent with local water management and create new vulnerabilities in the context of climate change. Moreover, the regional decision to end financial support for the more efficient, existing network for the water quality survey of regional coastal lagoons breaks up the local water governance. This paper demonstrates why keeping this network would have been absolutely necessary for encouraging a governance capable of proposing sustainable solutions to water quality challenges induced by climate change
Inhibitory effect of cadmium on estrogen signaling in zebrafish brain and protection by zinc

International audienceThe present study was conducted to assess the effects of Cd exposure on estrogen signaling in the zebrafish brain, as well as the potential protective role of Zn against Cd-induced toxicity. For this purpose, the effects on transcriptional activation of the estrogen receptors (ERs), aromatase B (Aro-B) protein expression and molecular expression of related genes were examined in vivo using wild-type and transgenic zebrafish embryos. For in vitro studies, an ER-negative glial cell line (U251MG) transfected with different zebrafish ER subtypes (ERα, ERβ1 and ERβ2) was also used. Embryos were exposed either to estradiol (E2), Cd, E2+Cd or E2+Cd+Zn for 72 h and cells were exposed to the same treatments for 30 h. Our results show that E2 treatment promoted the transcriptional activation of ERs and increased Aro-B expression, at both the protein and mRNA levels. Although exposure to Cd, does not affect the studied parameters when administered alone, it significantly abolished the E2-stimulated transcriptional response of the reporter gene for the three ER subtypes in U251-MG cells, and clearly inhibited the E2 induction of Aro-B in radial glial cells of zebrafish embryos. These inhibitory effects were accompanied by a significant downregulation of the expression of esr1, esr2a, esr2b and cyp19a1b genes compared to the E2-treated group used as a positive control. Zn administration during simultaneous exposure to E2 and Cd strongly stimulated zebrafish ERs transactivation and increased Aro-B protein expression, whereas mRNA levels of the three ERs as well as the cyp19a1b remained unchanged in comparison with Cd-treated embryos. In conclusion, our results clearly demonstrate that Cd acts as a potent anti-estrogen in vivo and in vitro, and that Cd-induced E2 antagonism can be reversed, at the protein level, by Zn supplement
Highly efficient in vitro and in vivo delivery of functional RNAs using new versatile MS2-chimeric retrovirus-like particles

International audienceRNA delivery is an attractive strategy to achieve transient gene expression in research projects and in cell- or gene-based therapies. Despite significant efforts investigating vector-directed RNA transfer, there is still a requirement for better efficiency of delivery to primary cells and in vivo. Retroviral platforms drive RNA delivery, yet retrovirus RNA-packaging constraints limit gene transfer to two genome-molecules per viral particle. To improve retroviral transfer, we designed a dimerization-independent MS2-driven RNA packaging system using MS2-Coat-retrovirus chimeras. The engineered chimeric particles promoted effective packaging of several types of RNAs and enabled efficient transfer of biologically active RNAs in various cell types, including human CD34+ and iPS cells. Systemic injection of high-titer particles led to gene expression in mouse liver and transferring Cre-recombinase mRNA in muscle permitted widespread editing at the ROSA26 locus. We could further show that the VLPs were able to activate an osteoblast differentiation pathway by delivering RUNX2- or DLX5-mRNA into primary human bone-marrow mesenchymal-stem cells. Thus, the novel chimeric MS2-lentiviral particles are a versatile tool for a wide range of applications including cellular-programming or genome-editing
A new gene involved in coenzyme Q biosynthesis in Escherichia coli: UbiI functions in aerobic C5-hydroxylation

International audienceCoenzyme Q (ubiquinone or Q) is a redox-active lipid found in organisms ranging from bacteria to mammals in which it plays a crucial role in energy-generating processes. Q biosynthesis is a complex pathway that involves multiple proteins. In this work, we show that the uncharacterized conserved visC gene is involved in Q biosynthesis in Escherichia coli, and we have renamed it ubiI. Based on genetic and biochemical experiments, we establish that the UbiI protein functions in the C5-hydroxylation reaction. A strain deficient in ubiI has a low level of Q and accumulates a compound derived from the Q biosynthetic pathway, which we purified and characterized. We also demonstrate that UbiI is only implicated in aerobic Q biosynthesis and that an alternative enzyme catalyzes the C5-hydroxylation reaction in the absence of oxygen. We have solved the crystal structure of a truncated form of UbiI. This structure shares many features with the canonical FAD-dependent para-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase and represents the first structural characterization of a monooxygenase involved in Q biosynthesis. Site-directed mutagenesis confirms that residues of the flavin binding pocket of UbiI are important for activity. With our identification of UbiI, the three monooxygenases necessary for aerobic Q biosynthesis in E. coli are known
Phoebe's orbit from ground-based and space-based observations

10 pages, 9 figures. Reproduced with permission. Copyright ESO. Original publication available at www.aanda.orgInternational audienceContext. The ephemeris of Phoebe, the ninth satellite of Saturn, is not very accurate. Previous dynamical models were usually too simplified, the astrometry is heterogeneous and, the Saturn's ephemeris itself is an additionnal source of error. Aims: The aim is to improve Phoebe's ephemeris by using a large set of observations, correcting some systematic errors and updating the dynamical model. Methods: The dynamical model makes use of the most recent ephemeris of planets and Saturnian satellites. The astrometry of Phoebe is improved by using a compilation of ground-based and space-based observations and by correcting the bias in stellar catalogues used for the reduction. Results: We present an accurate ephemeris of Phoebe with residuals of 0.45 arcsec and with an estimated accuracy of Phoebe's position of less that 100 km on 1990-2020 period. The catalogue of ground-based observations of Phoebe is available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/553/A36Table 5 is available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.or
Evidence for linkage of a new region (11p14) to eczema and allergic diseases.

International audienceAsthma, allergic rhinitis (AR) and atopic dermatitis also called eczema are allergic co-morbidites, which are likely to depend on pleiotropic genetic effects as well as on specific genetic factors. After a previous genome-wide linkage screen conducted for asthma and AR in a sample of 295 French EGEA families ascertained through asthmatic subjects, the aim here was to search for genetic factors involved in eczema and more particularly the ones shared by the three allergic diseases using the same EGEA data. In this sake, eczema and phenotypes of "allergic disease" accounting for the joint information on the presence/absence of the three diseases were examined by linkage analyses using the maximum likelihood binomial method. A fine mapping was carried out in regions detected for potential linkage, followed by association studies using the family-based association test (FBAT). Evidence for linkage to 11p14 region was shown for "allergic disease" and eczema. Linkage was also indicated between eczema and 5q13 and between "allergic disease" and both 5p15 and 17q21 regions. Fine mapping supported the evidence of linkage to 11p14 and FBAT analyses showed the association between "allergic disease" and a marker located at the linkage peak on 11p14. Further investigations in this region will allow identifying genetic factor(s) which could have pleiotropic effect in the three allergic diseases
Structure of the N=27 isotones derived from the $^{44}$Ar(d,p)$^{45}$Ar

Expérience GANIL/SPIRAL, détecteur CATS, détecteur MUST, 7 figures,International audienceThe $^{44}$Ar(d,p)$^{45}$Ar neutron transfer reaction was performed at 10~A.MeV. Measured excitation energies, deduced angular momenta and spectroscopic factors of the states populated in $^{45}$Ar are reported. A satisfactory description of these properties is achieved in the shell model framework using a new $sdpf$ interaction. The model analysis is extended to more exotic even-Z nuclei down to $^{41}_{14}$Si$_{27}$ to study how collectivity impacts the low lying structure of N~=~27 neutron-rich nuclei
White Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with fine chromaticity tuning via ultrathin layer position shifting

International audienceNon-doped white organic light-emitting diodes using an ultrathin yellow-emitting layer of rubrene (5,6,11,12-tetraphenylnaphtacene) inserted on either side of the interface between a hole-transporting NPB (4,4'-bis[N-(1-naphtyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl) layer and a blue-emitting DPVBi (4,4'-bis(2,2'-diphenylvinyl)-1,1'-biphenyl) layer are described. Both the thickness and the position of the rubrene layer allow fine chromaticity tuning from deep-blue to pure-yellow via bright-white with CIE coordinates (x= 0.33, y= 0.32), a external quantum efficiency of 1.9%, and a color rendering index of 70. Such a structure also provides an accurate sensing tool to measure the exciton diffusion length in both DPVBi and NPB (8.7 and 4.9 nm respectively)
Identifying global seismic anisotropy patterns by correlating shear-wave splitting and surface-wave data

International audienceWe compare a global compilation of shear-wave splitting measurements with azimuthal seismic anisotropy parameters inferred from surface-wave tomography. The currently available splitting dataset is taken from a novel comprehensive collection of available publications that is updated interactively online. The comparison between the two types of data is made by calculating predicted splitting parameters from the anisotropic tomography model. Comparing these predicted splitting parameters with the observed ones, we find a considerable correlation between the two datasets at global scale. This result is noteworthy, since such correlation did not seem to exist in previous studies. The spatial resolution associated with the two types of methods is rather different. While surface waves have good vertical resolution and poor lateral resolution of several hundreds of kilometers, SKS splitting measurements have good lateral, but poor vertical resolution. The correlation can be understood in light of recent propositions that anisotropy seen by SKS splitting constrains mostly the upper mantle, and therefore a similar depth region as surface waves. The correlation also confirms the generally good quality of the shear-wave measurements, as well as that of the anisotropic tomography model