Training system issues in the year 2000.

This article discusses the influence of future changes in the demographics of working populations and the characteristics of the workplace on research, development, and policy for training systems. Analyses of these changes indicate that there will be more expectations that training programs will serve as a positive hope to maximize the potential of each person. This will result in increased emphasis on research to identify abilities required to perform more cognitively complex jobs. Also, research on basic skill and support programs to permit unskilled youth to enter the world of work will be required. In addition, there will be a need for research on training necessary to help future managers and leaders work with members of a more diverse work force. Finally, the implications of these changes suggest that we need policies that consider research and development on retraining as a national need to help all individuals maximize their individual talents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

New Design of Quaternary Sequences

 We construct new families of quaternary periodic sequences having good autocorrelation properties that are useful for the synchronisation of messages in multiple access communications systems. The design of these quaternary periodic sequences makes use of a general construction based on the Gray map starting from couples of binary words with particular weight or correlation properties. Received: June 26, 2000; revised version: January 21, 2002     

Enhancement of optical processes in coupled plasmonic nanocavities [Invited

We present detailed experimental and numerical investigations of resonances in deep nanogroove gratings in metallic substrates. These plasmonic nanocavity gratings feature enhanced fields within the grooves that enable a large enhancement of linear and nonlinear optical processes. This enhancement relies on both localized and propagating surface plasmons on the nanopatterned surface. We show that the efficiency of optical processes such as Raman scattering and four-wave mixing is dramatically enhanced by plasmonic nanocavity gratings.     

Constipation Mitigation by Rhubarb Extract in Middle-Aged Adults Is Linked to Gut Microbiome Modulation: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Gut microbiota alterations are intimately linked to chronic constipation upon aging. We investigated the role of targeted changes in the gut microbiota composition in the relief of constipation symptoms after rhubarb extract (RE) supplementation in middle-aged volunteers. Subjects (95% women, average 58 years old) were randomized to three groups treated with RE at two different doses determined by its content of rhein (supplementation of 12.5 mg and 25 mg per day) vs. placebo (maltodextrin) for 30 days. We demonstrated that daily oral supplementation of RE for 30 days was safe even at the higher dose. Stool frequency and consistency, and perceived change in transit problem, transit speed and difficulty in evacuating, investigated by validated questionnaires, were improved in both groups of RE-treated volunteers compared to placebo. Higher abundance of Lachnospiraceae (mainly Roseburia and Agathobacter) only occurred after RE treatment when present at low levels at baseline, whereas an opposite shift in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels was observed in both RE-treated groups (increase) and placebo (decrease). Fecal Lachnospiraceae and SCFA were positively correlated with stool consistency. This study demonstrates that RE supplementation promotes butyrate-producing bacteria and SCFA, an effect that could contribute to relieving chronic constipation in middle-aged persons.     

Tumor-Microenvironment Characterization of the MB49 Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder-Cancer Orthotopic Model towards New Therapeutic Strategies

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillations for the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients can result in significant side effects and treatment failure. Immune checkpoint blockade and/or decreasing tumor-infiltrating myeloid suppressor cells may be alternative or complementary treatments. Here, we have characterized immune cell infiltration and chemoattractant molecules in mouse orthotopic MB49 bladder tumors. Our data show a 100-fold increase in CD45⁺ immune cells from day 5 to day 9 tumors including T cells and mainly myeloid cells. Both monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor-cells (M-MDSC) and polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSC were strongly increased in day 9 tumors, with PMN-MDSC representing ca. 70% of the myeloid cells in day 12 tumors, while tumor associated macrophages (TAM) were only modestly increased. The kinetic of PD-L1 tumor expression correlated with published data from patients with PD-L1 expressing bladder tumors and with efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment, further validating the orthotopic MB49 bladder-tumor model as suitable for designing novel therapeutic strategies. Comparison of chemoattractants expression during MB49 bladder tumors grow highlighted CCL8 and CCL12 (CCR2-ligands), CCL9 and CCL6 (CCR-1-ligands), CXCL2 and CXCL5 (CXCR2-ligands), CXCL12 (CXCR4-ligand) and antagonist of C5/C5a as potential targets to decrease myeloid suppressive cells. Data obtained with a single CCR2 inhibitor however showed that the complex chemokine crosstalk would require targeting multiple chemokines for anti-tumor efficacy.     

Mechanism of retention of hydrocarbons in reservoir rocks. Role of polar compounds and effect of additives

Evidence is given for the involvement of hydrophobic interactions in the retention of hydrocarbons in oil fields. A prerequisite is that the surface of the reservoir rock has to be hydrophobic. This was obtained through adsorption of lipophilic polar compounds. The isotherms for the adsorption of dodecylamine hydrochloride and N-hexadecylpyridine hydrochloride were plotted. The treated quartz could take up large amounts of toluene. The relationships between some features of the isotherms and the retention phenomenon have been analysed. The effect of water-structuring additives (e.g. LiF, CaCl₂, NaF and guanidine hydrochloride) on the recovery of hydrocarbons was investigated by means of static and dynamic methods.     

On-line resources allocation for ATM networks with rerouting

This paper presents an application we developed for France Telecom R&D to solve a difficult real-life network problem. The problem takes place in an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network administration context and consists in planning demands of connection over a period of 1 year. A new demand is accepted if both bandwidth and Quality of Service (QoS) requirements are satisfied. Demands are not known prior to the assignment and must be performed on-line according to their arrival. Moreover, the acceptance or the reject of a demand must be decided within a given time of 1 min.