Analyseur scalaire de réseau millimétrique couvrant de 16 à 250 GHz

The growing needs to cover the millimeter range have hitherto been restrained by the heaviness and cost of the necessary devices. The problem of available sources is a difficult one : some (Gunn diodes) are small and workable, but very narrowly tunable ; others (bwo tubes) are quite widely tunable, but cumbersome and relying on high-voltage power supplies. The very high frequency range (over 100 GHz) requires klystrons (whose lifetime is short) or carcinotrons (which are powerful, but correspond to a huge investment in terms of money and space). We present here a recently marketed system based on an original idea. Very convenient, workable and lightweight, it is, up to now, the only device in the world which permits to work in the most extended millimeter range, from 16 to 250 GHz continuously, without a great number of sources or any removable drawers. The dynamic range measured is superior to 70 dB from 16 to 94 GHz, and better than 50 dB up to 170 GHz.     

Magnetic field processing of polymers. I. Hydroxypropyl cellulose

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) of degree of substitution three and average molecular weight of 100,000 was processed in a magnetic field of 1.2T. Films of HPC were cast from water, methanol, ethyl methyl ketone, and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane solutions in a magnetic field using static and dynamic casting techniques. The processed films were evaluated for tensile strength, elastic modulus, microhardness, and molecular chain alignment by wide angle x-ray diffraction and polarized infrared. The best alignment and hence the greatest improvement in properties was obtained using a combined magnetic field and flow alignment procedure. These samples showed no increase in the elastic modulus, a 106% increase in the tensile strength, a 21% increase in the microhardness, and were dichroic. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

     

Recent Advances for Intumescent Polymers

Summary: This paper reviews recent approaches for making intumescent systems. The mechanisms of action involving intumescence are described and commented on. Synergistic aspects using zeolites and organoclays are also considered and discussed. New strategies are examined on the basis of the mechanism of intumescence. The approach of using char forming polymers as additives (blend technology) is also fully discussed. This consists of substituting classical polyols (char forming agents) with char forming polymers (polyamides and thermoplastic polyurethane). It will be shown that the advantages of this concept are to obtain flame‐retarded (FR) polymer blends with improved mechanical properties in comparison with polymers loaded with classical formulations, and the avoidance of problems due to the water solubility of the polyols and their migration. The “nanocomposite approach” enhances the performance of intumescent systems by using a nanostructured char forming polymer. It will be shown that this combination of intumescence via the blending approach and nanocomposites enhances both flame retardancy and mechanical properties, and allows many specifications to be produced (for example, the design of EVA‐based materials for flame retarded low voltage cables and wire). This appears to be one of the most promising ways for designing new efficient intumescent materials.

Intumescent residue after LOI test of an intumescent poly(propylene).     

From mitochondrial ion channels to arrhythmias in the heart: computational techniques to bridge the spatio-temporal scales

Computer simulations of electrical behaviour in the whole ventricles have become commonplace during the last few years. The goals of this article are (i) to review the techniques that are currently employed to model cardiac electrical activity in the heart, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches, and (ii) to implement a novel modelling approach, based on physiological reasoning, that lifts some of the restrictions imposed by current state-of-the-art ionic models. To illustrate the latter approach, the present study uses a recently developed ionic model of the ventricular myocyte that incorporates an excitation-contraction coupling and mitochondrial energetics model. A paradigm to bridge the vastly disparate spatial and temporal scales, from subcellular processes to the entire organ, and from sub-microseconds to minutes, is presented. Achieving sufficient computational efficiency is the key to success in the quest to develop multiscale realistic models that are expected to lead to better understanding of the mechanisms of arrhythmia induction following failure at the organelle level, and ultimately to the development of novel therapeutic applications.     

The EDL Server for Scheduling Periodic and Soft Aperiodic Tasks with Resource Constraints

In this paper, we are concerned with the problem of serving soft aperiodic tasks on a uniprocessor system where periodic tasks are scheduled on a dynamic-priority, preemptive basis and exclusively access to critical sections. Scheduling of tasks is handled by the Dynamic Priority Ceiling Protocol working with an Earliest Deadline scheduler. Our analysis determines the maximum processing time which may be stolen from periodic tasks without jeopardizing both their timing constraints and resource consistency. It provides the basis for an on-line scheduling algorithm, the EDL Server, to deal with the minimization of response times for soft aperiodic tasks.     

A Focus on Unusual ECL2 Interactions Yields β2-Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists with Unprecedented Scaffolds

The binding pockets of aminergic G protein-coupled receptors are often targeted by drugs and virtual screening campaigns. In order to find ligands with unprecedented scaffolds for one of the best-investigated receptors of this subfamily, the β₂-adrenergic receptor, we conducted a docking-based screen insisting that molecules would address previously untargeted residues in extracellular loop 2. We here report the discovery of ligands with a previously undescribed coumaran-based scaffold. Furthermore, we provide an analysis of the added value that X-ray structures in different conformations deliver for such docking screens.     

Effects of trace metal elements on ultrastructural features of hepatopancreas of Armadillidium granulatum Brandt, 1833 (Crustacea,Isopoda)

This study was conducted to compare metals bioaccumulation in the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium granulatum collected from Ghar El Melh lagoon. We focused on recognizing the effects of trace elements on hepatopancreas functional role. To this end, isopod specimens were exposed for 3 weeks to sediments contaminated with cadmium, copper, zinc, mercury, and nickel. Three concentrations were used in duplicate for each experimental condition. At the end of the experiment, metal body burdens were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Results of the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) showed that the species A. granulatum was classified as a Cu macroconcentrator (BAF > 2) and a Zn deconcentrator (BAF < 2). Dose dependent morphological and histological changes were observed in the hepatopancreas cells using transmission electron microscopy. The predominant features were: microvillus border disruption, condensation of the cytoplasm with increasing endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, lysosomes and granules that accumulated metals in B and S cells. The number of lipid droplets decreased especially after Cd, Zn, Hg, and Ni treatments. This study demonstrated that the terrestrial isopod A. gramulatum could be a good indicator of soil metal contamination.     

Physiological and histopathological responses of Porcellio laevis (Isopoda,Crustacea) as indicators of metal trace element contamination

This study was designed to assess the impact of the mixture of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) on the bioaccumulation and the ultrastructural changes in the hepatopancreas of Porcellio laevis (Latreille, 1804) after 4 weeks of exposure to contaminated Quercus leaves under laboratory conditions. For each metal, four concentrations were used with four replicates for each concentration. Metal concentrations in the hepatopancreas and the rest of the body were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. From the first week until the end of the experiment, a weight gain in P. laevis was observed particularly between the first and the end of exposure from 93.3 ± 18.22 mg fw to 105.22 ± 16.16 mg fw and from 106.4 ± 22.67 mg fw to 125.9 ± 23.9 mg fw for Mix1 and Mix4, respectively. Additionally, the determined metal trace elements (MTE) concentrations in the hepatopancreas were considerably higher compared to those in the rest of the body and seem to be dose‐dependent. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), some alterations were highlighted in the hepatopancreas. The main observed alterations were (a) the destruction of the microvilli border in a considerable portion of cells, (b) the increase of the lipid droplets with different shapes and sizes, (c) the increase in the number of the mitochondria, and (d) the appearance of TE in the form of B‐type granules. The obtained results confirmed the ability of P. laevis to deal with high amounts of MTE, suggesting its possible use in future soil's biomonitoring programs.     

Rheological and thermogravimetric studies of the crosslinking process of functionalized acrylic latexes

Acrylic latexes are among one of the most widely used binders in the chemical bonding of textile nonwovens. This article investigates the crosslinking process of functionalized acrylic latices to understand the binder behavior during the processing of nonwovens and in the final product. Two techniques are used: rheology, to follow the structural development within the latex polymer, and thermogravimetry, to investigate the reaction through the weight loss resulting from the formation of evolving side products. The work has been carried out on latices functionalized by two crosslinking agents: N‐methylol acrylamide (NMA) and N‐methylol methacrylamide (NMMA). The results highlight the importance of the nature of the crosslinking agent, especially, its hydrophilic character, and the influence of the pH of the latex dispersions on the crosslinking mechanism, as well as on the final mechanical properties of the latex films. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1117–1123, 2006