Rehabilitation planned in accordance with the Luria neuropsychological investigation: A case history of a patient with left sided aneurysm.

After suffering a rupture of a left-sided aneurysm on the middle cerebral artery with prolonged arterial spasms, the prognosis for recovery of speech and motor functions of a 27-yr-old male patient was considered to be poor. Based on a Luria neuropsychological investigation that revealed many areas of preserved brain functions, rehabilitation efforts were directed toward training of specific abilities as well as compensatory skills using intact functions. This case demonstrates the interaction between the training program and the levels of motivation and persistence of the S and his family necessary to produce optimal rehabilitation outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Copper planar microcoils applied to magnetic actuation

Recent advances in microtechnology allow realization of planar microcoils. These components are integrated in MEMS as magnetic sensor or actuator. In the latter case, it is necessary to maximize the effective magnetic field which is proportional to the current passing through the copper track and depends on the distance to the generation microcoil. The aim of this work was to determine the optimal microcoil design configuration for magnetic field generation. The results were applied to magnetic actuation, taking into account technological constraints. In particular, we have considered different realistic configurations that involve a magnetically actuated device coupled to a microcoil. Calculations by a semi-analytical method using Matlab software were validated by experimental measurements. The copper planar microcoils are fabricated by UV micromoulding on different substrates: flexible polymer (Kapton^®) and silicate on silicon. They are constituted by a spiral-like continuous track. Their total surface is about 1 mm².     

Influence of chemical and mineralogical composition of concrete aggregates on their behaviour at elevated temperature

The nature of aggregates has an important influence on the behaviour of concrete at high temperature. The aggregates used in concrete are classified into two categories: siliceous (S) and calcareous (C). Most publications and Eurocode 2 Part 1–2 underline concrete containing C aggregates have a better thermal resistance in comparison to concrete with S aggregate. Recent studies show that rocks of identical chemical nature can have different behaviour during a temperature rise. Therefore, the improvement for understanding the thermal damage process of aggregates is necessary. An experimental study performed on three different aggregates (limestone, flint and quartzite) underwent heating–cooling cycles at 150, 300, 450, 600 and 750 °C is discussed in this paper. For a same S nature, the flint showed a spalling phenomenon from 300 to 500 °C, while quartzite had a good thermal stability up to 750 °C. C aggregates presented instability due to decarbonation/hydration after the heating/cooling cycle at 750 °C. The physico-chemical, mineralogical and microstructural evolutions of these aggregates with temperature were analysed to better understand the instability process of concrete aggregates. The evolution of flint damage is especially described by a series of observations of cracking from macroscopic to nanoscopic scale through microscopic scale. Aggregates have a high temperature behaviour very different depending on their physicochemical properties. Distinguishing aggregates according to their mineralogical nature only may not completely be sufficient to anticipate their thermal stability. The distinction between S versus C prescribed by the Eurocode 2 Part 1–2 for calculating concrete compressive strength at elevated temperature is not sufficiently precise or relevant.     

Airflow inside an open ventilated system: Influence of operator’s arms or moving conveyor

This study deals with the influence of static and dynamic objects on the airflow (generated by a unidirectional air supply) inside an “open” ventilated system used in an agro-food production line. Firstly, the presence of operator’s arms, considered here as objects, leads to the appearance of recirculating zones under each arm. The influence of different positions of the static arms protected by gloves on the airflow organization has been studied. Secondly, modifications induced by the motion of a conveyor system or of moving arms on the airflow have been explored.In an experimental approach, airflow organization has been studied by visualization and by Particle Image Velocimetry for static cases and moving conveyor case.Numerical simulations were carried out using Computational Fluids Dynamics codes. Results obtained for moving gloves cases highlight the contribution of dynamic meshes tools, implemented in the CFD codes to make simulations of moving objects.     

Viscoelastic and elastic–plastic behaviors of amorphous polymeric surfaces during scratch

In this study, we propose an analysis of the residual groove after contact between a spherical indenter and an amorphous polymeric surface (polymethylmethacrylate, PMMA) in scratch experiments. The geometrical shape of the residual groove was mathematically described using an exponential decay law. Finite element modeling (FEM) of scratch tests was compared to the corresponding experimental results. Assuming a two-segment simplified constitutive law with linear elastic behavior followed by linear strain hardening, the friction at the interface between the indenter and the material was modeled with a Coulomb's friction coefficient varying from 0 to 0.4, for computed ratios a/R between 0.1 and 0.4. The FEM results for elastic–plastic contact indicate that the shape of the residual groove is directly related to the plastic strain field in the deformation beneath the indenter during scratching. It is shown that the dimensions of the plastically deformed volume and the plastic strain gradient both depend on the ratio a/R and also on the friction coefficient.     

Influence of the nature of aggregates on the behaviour of concrete subjected to elevated temperature

An experimental study is carried out on concretes composed of three different types of aggregates: semi crushed silico-calcareous, crushed calcareous and rolled siliceous. For each aggregate type, two water/cement ratios (W/C), 0.6 and 0.3 are studied. Aggregates and concrete specimens were subjected to 300, 600 and 750 °C heating–cooling cycles. We analyse the evolution of thermal, physical and mechanical properties of concrete in terms of behaviour and physical characteristic evolutions of aggregates with temperature. The study of thermal behaviour of aggregates showed the importance of initial moisture state for the flints. The crystallisation and microstructure of quartz play an important role in the thermal stability of siliceous aggregates. The residual mechanical behaviour of concrete varies depending on the aggregate and the influence of aggregates is also dependent on paste composition. This study allowed to better understand the influence of chemical and mineralogical characteristics of aggregates on the thermomechanical behaviour of concrete.     

Contribution to the explanation of the spalling of small specimen without any mechanical restraint exposed to high temperature

The behaviour of concrete subjected to high temperature is studied. The aim of the study is to explain the spalling or bursting phenomenon observed during experimental studies in the laboratory. Mechanical computations are carried out with the finite element code CAST3M developed at the French Atomic Energy Agency (CEA). Heat gradient and water vapour pressure inside the concrete element are determined by using a thermo-hydrous model. Then, the mechanical stresses generated in the studied concrete element are calculated according to two behaviour assumptions: the linear isotropic elastic law and an elastoplastic model. Numerical simulations show that, during the heating cycles, tension stresses are developed in the central part and compression stresses at the surface of the cylindrical concrete element. The highest stresses appear when the surface temperature of the concrete element is about 300 °C. The tension stresses in the specimens then exceed the concrete tensile strength.     

Well-defined second-order nonlinear optical polymers by controlled radical polymerization,via multifunctional macromolecular chain transfer agent: Design,synthesis, and characterizations

To address the issue of the aggregation in second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) polymers we developed an approach based on the synthesis of a multifunctional macromolecular chain transfer agent. The controlled monomer insertion polymerization into the main chain by a ‘reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer’ (RAFT) mechanism allows the spatial arrangement of the NLO chromophores along the polymeric chain in order to obtain sequence-ordered polymers. In a first step, a novel trithiocarbonate based macroinitiator containing the disperse red 19 (DR19) units in the main chain was synthesized by polycondensation; in a second step, this polymeric precursor was applied to the synthesis of a sequentially ordered polymer by controlled insertion radical polymerization of styrene. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data revealed that, (i) for the first time, polystyrenes (PS) bearing DR19 dyes covalently bounded were obtained, and (ii) both the insertion reaction and the length of the polystyrene segments were accurately controlled. Whatever the incorporated dye amount, all the copolymers were soluble in common solvents. Second-order optical nonlinearity in corona-poled thin films was evaluated, and second harmonic coefficients up to 80 pm/V were determined for loading ratio lower than 10 wt-% (DR19/PS). This approach opens up opportunities for the incorporation of more efficient chromophores even in apolar matrices.     

On Dimensionality of Halogen-Bonded Thiophene Solid-State Assemblies

We report on the structures of three dibromothiophene compounds ( 4 , 5 , and 12 ) and the analysis of the patterns of self-assembly in the solid state by C Br⋅⋅⋅Br C halogen bonds of a selected set of 16 di- or poly-bromine (poly)thiophene monomers sorted according to the dimensionality of their halogen-bonded, extended frameworks thereby identifying syn- or anti-strings and layers. We conclude that in 1 , 2 , 9 , and 10 , the antiparallel orientation of successive C Br⋅⋅⋅Br C halogen-bonded dibromothiophene units along extended anti-strings is linked to the occurrence of solid-state polymerization.