The Paleozoic magmatic history of the Maggia and Sambuco nappes, Lower Penninic, Central Lepontine Alps

Résumé : Les corps magmatiques sont des indicateurs essentiels dans toute reconstitution paléogéographique et/ou géodynamique d'un cycle orogénique, en particulier en contexte polycyclique, où la plupart des autres indices ont été oblitérés. Ils sont aisément datables et leurs caractéristiques géochimiques permettent de contraindre leur contexte tectonique de mise en place. Cette approche a été appliquée aux socles pré-mésozoïques des nappes penniques inférieures de Sambuco et de la Maggia, dans les Alpes centrales lepontines. Plusieurs événements magmatiques ont été identifiés dans le socle de Sambuco et datés par la méthode U-Pb sur zircon couplée à la technique LA-ICPMS. La suite calco-alcaline mafique rubanée de Scheggia est datée du Cambrien inférieur à 540-530 Ma ; le métagranite alumineux oeillé de Sasso Nero a un âge de 480-470 Ma, tout comme bien d'autres «older orthogneisses» des socles alpins. Il contient des zircons hérités d'âge panafricain à 630-610 Ma, indicateur d'une affiliation gondwanienne de ces terrains. Le pluton calco-alcalin du Matorello est daté à environ 300-310 Ma, et les filons lamprophyriques qu'il abrite à 300 Ma. La granodiorite de Cocco et le leucogranite de Ruscada, tous deux intrudés dans le socle de la nappe adjacente de la Maggia, ont des âges similaires à celui du Matorello. Ceci ajouté aux similitudes magmatiques observées entre Cocco et Matorello suggère une proximité paléogéographique des deux nappes au Permien-Carbonifère. Or ces dernières sont actuellement considérées appartenir à deux domaines paléogéographiques mésozoïques distincts : helvétique pour Sambuco et briançonnais pour Maggia, séparés par un bassin océanique. Si tel fut le cas, aucun mouvement décrochant ne doit avoir décalé les marges continentales de l'océan, retrouvées en parfaite coïncidence lors de sa fermeture. Le Matorello est un pluton recristallisé en faciès amphibolite et plissé par cinq phases successives de déformation non-coaxiales, qui ont conduit à son renversement complet, attesté par des indicateurs de paléogravité. Il préserve de spectaculaires phénomènes de coexistence liquide de magmas (essaims d'enclaves et Bills composites). Ce pluton était originellement tabulaire, construit par l'accumulation de multiples injections de magma en feuillets d'épaisseur métrique à décamétrique. Suivant le rythme de mise en place, les injections successives ont rapidement cristallisé avec des contours nets et bien définis (Bills composites) ou se sont mélangées avec les précédentes pour former une couche non consolidée de plusieurs dizaines de mètres d'épaisseur (granodiorite principale). Les injections individuelles sont délimitées par de subtils contrastes en granulométrie, proportions modales ou ségrégation de minéraux (schlieren), ou par des phénomènes d'érosion le long des surfaces de contact. Deux couches métriques à contour sinueux consistent en une accumulation compacte d'enclaves mafiques arrondies dans une matrice granodioritique fine. Le granoclassement des enclaves, la présence de figures de charge et de phénomènes érosifs en base de couche, ainsi que des schlieren de biotite entrecroisés évoquent l'injection de coulées de magma chargé d'enclaves et de faible viscosité en régime hydrodynamique turbulent dans un encaissant granodioritique encore largement liquide. La nature hybride des roches implique une chambre magmatique sous-jacente, en cours de différenciation et périodiquement réalimentée. Les magmas sont des liquides mafiques dérivés du manteau et des liquides anatectiques d'origine crustale, comme l'indique la gamme mesurée des rapports isotopiques initiaux du Sr (0.704 à 0.709) et des valeurs epsilon Nd (-2.1 à -4.7). Ces données montrent également que la contribution crustale est dominante, en accord avec les isotopes du plomb. Les phénomènes d'hybridation ont vraisemblablement eu lieu en base de croûte et dans la chambre magmatique sous-jacente au laccolite du Matorello. Les indicateurs de paléogravité du Matorello contribuent accessoirement à la compréhension de l'architecture actuelle de la nappe de Sambuco. Des plis isoclinaux à surface axiale verticale peuvent être mis en évidence par le contact entre les faciès dioritique et granodioritique. L'antiforme dont le Matorello forme le coeur est un synclinal, ce qui le positionne dans le Flanc inverse du grand pli couché que forme la nappe de Sambuco. Par ailleurs, des blocs de gneiss retrouvés dans le wildflysch sommital de la couverture de la nappe d'Antigorio ont été affiliés dans cette étude au pluton du Matorello. Ceci implique que le front de la nappe de Sambuco chevauchait déjà la partie est du bassin d'Antigorio au moment de sa fermeture. Par conséquent, ce n'est qu'en position externe que la nappe du Lebendun chevauche directement la nappe d'Antigorio. Abstract Magmatic bodies are important markers in paleo-geographic or geodynamic reconstructions of orogenic cycles, even more so in the case of polycyclic events where many of the other markers have been overwritten or destroyed. Plutons are relatively easy to date and their geochemical properties help constrain the tectonic context in which they were emplaced. This study focuses on the pre-mesozoic basement in the Sambuco and Maggia lower Penninic nappes located in the central Lepontine domain of the Alps. A number of magmatic events have been identified in the Sambuco basement. These events were dated using LA-ICPMS U/Pb on zircon grains. The mafic calc-alkaline banded Scheggia suite is dated as lower Cambrian, 540-530 Ma. The Al-rich Sasso-Nero lenticular gneiss is 480-470 Ma old (similarly to many older orfhogneisses of the Alpine basement) and contains 630-610 Ma old pan-African inherited zircons that illustrate the Gondwanian origin of these terranes.The calc-alkaline Matorello pluton is dated as 310-300 Ma whereas the lamprophyric bodies it contains are of 300 Ma. The Cocco granodiorite and the Ruscada leucogranite both intrude the basement of the adjacent Maggia nappe and are of similar ages to the Matorello. The ages as well as the geochemical similarities between the Cocco, Rucada and Matorello plutons suggest their paleo-geographic proximity at the Permian-Carboniferous boundary. However, these nappes are currently considered as belonging to two different Mesozoic paleo-geographic domains. Indeed, the Sambuco is considered as Helvetic whereas the Maggia is said to be Briançonnais, both separated by an oceanic basin. If this is the case, then it is essential that nostrike-slip movement has misaligned both continental margins since these coincide perfectly now that the oceanic domain closed. The Matorello pluton was originally a tabular intrusion, built up by the accumulation of multiple, several meter-thick, subhorizontal sheet-like injections of magma. Depending on their emplacement rate, the successive magma injections either solidified rapidly with sharp and rather well-defined boundaries (like the composite sills) or mingled with previous injections generating a thick molten layer up to several tens to hundred meters thick, like in the main granodioritic facies. These coalesced injections are hardly distinguishable, however subtle contrasts in granulometry, mineral modal proportions or mineral sorting (cross-bedded biotite-rich schlieren), as well as erosional features and/or crystal entrapment along contact surfaces allow to distinguish between the different injections. Two exceptional meter-thick layers display sinuous boundaries with the host granodiorite and consist of a densely packed accumulation of mafic enclaves in a granodioritic matrix. Gravitational sorting of the enclaves with load cast features at the base of the layers and sinuous biotite schlieren point to injection of low viscosity turbulent composite magma flows in the still largely molten granodiorite host. The hybrid nature of these rocks implies the existence of á periodically replenished and differentiated underlying magma chamber. Magmas are mafic liquids derived from the mantle and anatectic liquids of crustal origin, as shown by the (87Sr/86Sr), and epsilon Nd values (0.704-0.709 and -2.1 to -4.7 respectively. These data show that the crustal contribution is important, as confirmed by the Pb isotopes. The hybridisation processes seem to have occurred in the lower crust in magma chambers underlying the Matorello laccolith. The paleo-gravity markers in the Matorello help understand the architecture of the Sambuco nappe. Isoclinal folds with a vertical axial plane can be seen at the contact between dioritic and granodioritic facies. The antiform structure of which the Matorello is the heart is in fact a syncline. This places it in the inverse flanc of the large recumbent fold that constitutes the Sambuco nappe. The gneiss blocs found in the summital wildflysh cover of the Antigorio nappe have been linked to the Matorello pluton. This means that the front of the Sambuco nappe already overlapped the Antigorio basin when it closed. This implies that the Lebendun nappe can only overlap the Antigorio nappe in it's external position. Résumé grand public La chaîne alpine est la conséquence de la collision tertiaire entre deux masses continentales, l'Europe au nord et la péninsule apulienne africaine au sud, originellement séparées par l'océan mésozoïque téthysien. Cette collision a fermé un espace large de plusieurs centaines de km avec pour résultat l'écaillage de la croûte terrestre en unités tectoniques de dimensions variables, qui se sont empilées, imbriquées, éventuellement replissées en nappes de géométrie complexe. Cet amoncellement de 40 km d'épaisseur a vu sa température et sa pression lithostatique internes augmenter jusqu'à des valeurs de l'ordre de 680 °C et 6000 bars, induisant une recristallisation métamorphique des roches. L'un des objectifs de la géologie alpine est de reconstituer la géographie de la région aux temps mésozoïques de l'océan téthysien, en d'autres termes, de replacer chacune des unités tectoniques identifiées au sein de l'empilement alpin dans sa position originelle. Le défi est de taille et peut être comparé à celui de la reconstitution d'un vaste puzzle, dont certaines pièces seraient endommagées au niveau de leur contour ou leurs couleurs (métamorphisme), dissimulées par d'autres (enfouissement), voire tombées de la table de jeu (subduction, échappement latéral). Plusieurs approches ont été mises en oeuvre au cours du siècle écoulé. On citera en particulier la stratigraphie, la tectonique et le paléomagnétisme. Dans ce travail, nous avons essentiellement utilisé des techniques de datation isotopique absolue des roches (U/Pb sur zircon) qui, sur la base des connaissances acquises par l'ensemble des autres disciplines géologiques, nous ont permis de mieux contraindre ta paléogéographie mésozoïque du domaine «pennique inférieur » des Alpes centrales lépontines. Et au-delà? Nous savons tous que la disposition des continents à la surface de la Terre évolue constamment. Il est donc tentant d'essayer de remonter plus loin encore dans le temps et de reconstituer la physionomie de la marge sud européenne, tout au moins certains éléments de son histoire, au cours de l'ère paléozoïque. Les traces de ces événements très anciens sont naturellement ténues et dans ce contexte, les techniques de datation mentionnées ci-dessus deviennent les outils les plus performants. Ainsi, des datations u/Pb sur zircon nous ont permis de recenser plusieurs intrusions magmatiques, attribuées à quatre événements orogéniques anté-alpins. Des âges néoprotérozoïques (630-610 millions d'années ou Ma), cambrien inférieur (540-530 Ma), ordovicien inférieur (480-470 Ma) et carbonifère supérieur-permien inférieur (310-285 Ma) ont été obtenus dans le socle de la nappe de Sambuco. Des âges similaires à 300 Ma ont été obtenus dans la nappe voisine de la Maggia, qui permettent de relier ces deux unités. Aujourd'hui côte à côte, ces deux nappes devaient également se trouver proches l'une de l'autre il y a 300 Ma, lors de l'extension post-varisque. Les structures magmatiques spectaculaires préservées dans le pluton du Matorello (300 Ma) contraignent la géométrie actuelle de la nappe de Sambuco dans laquelle l'intrusion s'est mise en place. La forme originelle du pluton, aujourd'hui retourné et replissé plusieurs fois, s'avère être tabulaire, faite d'intrusions de faible épaisseur (1-300 m) s'étalant en forme de disque (30m à 2 km de diamètre). Les injections successives de magma se sont accumulées sous un toit dioritique précoce; elles sont issues, par le refais de fractures, d'une chambre magmatique plus profonde, périodiquement réalimentée par des magmas calco-alcalins d'origine mantellique contaminés parla croûte continentale profonde (εNd = -2.1 à -4.7). Des accumulations d'enclaves magmatiques arrondies et granoclassées dans des paléo-chenaux à fond érosif témoignent de conditions de mise en place hydrodynamiques à haute énergie. Ces enclaves sont emmenées de la chambre magmatique sous-jacente à la faveur d'épisodes de fracturation hydraulique liés à l'injection de magmas matelliques chauds dans des liquides différenciés riches en eau. Cette hypothèse est étayée par l'existence de filons composites. Une paléohorizontale a pu être déduite au sein du pluton, indiquant que cette partie de la nappe de Sambuco est verticalisée et isoclinalement replissée par la déformation alpine. Finalement, des blocs érodés du socle Sambuco ont été retrouvés dans le wildflysch sommital de la couverture sédimentaire mésozoïque de la nappe d'Antigorio sous-jacente. Ceci suggère que les blocs ont été fournis parle front de la nappe de Sambuco en train de chevaucher sur la nappe d'Antigorio au moment de la fermeture du bassin sédimentaire de cette dernière.

Ore genesis of Pb-Zn deposits in the Nappe zone of Northern Tunisia: Constraints from Pb-S-C-O isotopic systems

The Jalta and Jebel Ghozlane ore deposits are located in the extreme North of Tunisia, within the Nappe zone. The mineralization of Jalta, hosted in Triassic dolostones and the overlying Mio-Pliocene conglomerates, consists of abundant galena, barite, and cerussite with accessory sphalerite, pyrite, and jordanite. At Jebel Ghozlane, large Pb-Zn concentrations occur in the Triassic dolostones and Eocene limestones. The mineral association consists of galena, sphalerite, barite, and celestite and their oxidation products (cerussite, smithsonite, and anglesite). Lead isotope ratios in galena from both districts are relatively homogeneous ((206)Pb/(204)Pb = 18.702-18.823, (207)Pb/(204)Pb = 15.665-15.677, (208)Pb/(204)Pb = 38.725-38.875). The delta(34)S values for sulfates from both areas (+12.2 to +16.2 parts per thousand at Jalta and + 14.3 to + 19.4 parts per thousand at Jebel Ghozlane) are compatible with a derivation of sulfur from marine sulfates, possibly sourced from the Triassic evaporites. The delta(34)S values of the sulfides have a range between -10 and +12.5 parts per thousand at Jalta, and between -9.1 and +22.1 parts per thousand at Jebel Ghozlane. The large range of values suggests reduction of the sulfate by bacterial and/or thermochemical reduction of sulfate to sulfur. The high delta(34)S values of sulfides require closed-system reduction processes. The isotopically light carbon in late calcites (-6.3 to -2.5 parts per thousand) and authigenic dolomite (-17.6 parts per thousand) suggests an organic source of at least some of the carbon in these samples, whereas the similarity of the delta(18)O values between calcite (+24.8 parts per thousand) and the authigenic dolomite (+24.7 parts per thousand) of Jalta and their respective host rocks reflects oxygen isotope buffering of the mineralizing fluids by the host rock carbonates. The secondary calcite isotope compositions of Jalta are compatible with a hydrothermal fluid circulation at approximately 100 to 200 degrees C, but temperatures as low as 50 degrees C may be indicated by the late calcite of Jebel Ghozlane (delta(18)O of +35.9 parts per thousand). Given the geological events related to the Alpine orogeny in the Nappe zone (nappe emplacement, bimodal volcanism, and reactivation of major faults, such as Ghardimaou-Cap Serrat) and the Neogene age of the host rocks in several localities, a Late-Miocene age is proposed for the Pb-Zn ore deposits considered in this study. Remobilization of deep-seated primary deposits in the Paleozoic sequence is the most probable source for metals in both localities considered in this study and probably in the Nappe zone as a whole. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Endoscopic repair of laryngotracheoesophageal clefts: experience in 17 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To review the presentation and evaluation of laryngotracheoesophageal clefts as well as their treatment modalities, especially endoscopic closure. STUDY DESIGN: retrospective case series. METHODS: All patients treated for laryngotracheoesophageal clefts in our clinic during the last 15 years were included. Analysis of preoperative data, surgical success and functional outcome was performed. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients were included in our study. Cleft distribution was: type I (n=1), type II (n=3), type IIIa (n=5), type IIIb (n=8) and type IVa (n=1). All clefts were closed endoscopically by CO2 laser repair except for two patients who benfited from open surgery (one type I, one type IIIb). 7 of our 18 patients (39%) experienced a complication necessitating reoperation. Surgical treatment of LTEC allowed cessation of feeding tube assistance and artificial ventilation in 47% and 42% of patients respectively. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatement of laryngotracheoesophageal clefts remains a complex procedure with a high rate of morbidity for high grade clefts. Post-surgical difficulties in feeding and breathing are associated with concomitant congenital anomalies. Endoscopic repair is a successful technique for treating up to grade IIIa laryngeal clefts. Further investigation is needed to assess the best approach for treating longer clefts.

Modules d'endo-permutation

Dans la th´eorie des repr´esentations modulaires des groupes finis, les modules d?endo-permutation occupent une place importante. En e_et, c?est le r?ole jou´e par ces modules dans l?analyse de la structure de certains modules simples pour des groupes finis p-nilpotents, qui a amen´e E. Dade `a en introduire le concept, en 1978. Quelques ann´ees plus tard, L. Puig a d´emontr´e que la source de n?importe quel module simple pour un groupe fini p-r´esoluble quelconque est un module d?endo-permutation. Plus r´ecemment, on s?est rendu compte que ces modules interviennent aussi dans l?analyse locale des cat´egories d´eriv´ees et dans l?´etude des syst`emes de fusion. La situation que l?on consid`ere est la suivante. On se donne un nombre premier p, un p-groupe fini P, un corps alg´ebriquement clos k de caract´eristique p et on veut d´eterminer tous les kP-modules d?endo-permutation couverts ind´ecomposables de type fini, c?est-`a-dire tous les kP-modules ind´ecomposables de type fini, tels que leur alg`ebre d?endomorphismes est un kP-module de permutation ayant un facteur direct trivial. On d´efinit une relation d?´equivalence sur l?ensemble de ces kP-modules et le produit tensoriel des modules induit une structure de groupe ab´elien sur l?ensemble des classes d?´equivalence. On appelle ce groupe, le groupe de Dade de P. Ainsi, classifier les modules d?endo-permutation couverts revient `a d´eterminer le groupe de Dade de P. Le groupe de Dade d?un p-groupe fini arbitraire est encore inconnu, bien qu?E. Dade, en 1978, ´etait d´ej`a parvenu `a la classification dans le cas o`u P est ab´elien. La premi`ere partie de ce travail de th`ese est consacr´ee au probl`eme de la classification dans le cas g´en´eral et r´esoud la question dans le cas de deux familles de p-groupes finis, `a savoir celle des p-groupes m´etacycliques, pour un nombre premier p impair, et celle des 2-groupes extrasp´eciaux, de la forme D8 _ · · · _ D8. Ces deux choix ont ´et´e motiv´es par le fait que ces groupes sont "presque" ab´eliens. De plus, certains r´esultats sur la structure du groupe de Dade d?un p-groupe fini quelconque rendent le groupe de Dade des groupes de ces deux familles plus simple `a ´etudier. Dans un deuxi`eme temps, nous nous sommes int´eress´es `a deux occurrences de ces modules dans la th´eorie de la repr´esentation des groupes finis, c?est-`a-dire `a deux raisons qui motivent leur ´etude. Ainsi, nous avons r´ealis´e des modules d?endo-permutation comme sources de modules simples. En particulier, il s?av`ere que, dans le cas d?un nombre premier p impair, tout module d?endo-permutation ind´ecomposable dont la classe est un ´el´ement de torsion dans le groupe de Dade est la source d?un module simple. Finalement, nous avons d´etermin´e, parmi tous les modules d?endo-permutation connus actuellement, lesquels poss`edent une r´esolution de permutation endo-scind´ee. Nous sommes arriv´es `a la conclusion que les seuls modules d?endo-permutation qui n?ont pas de r´esolution de permutation endo-scind´ee sont les modules "exceptionnels" apparaissant pour un 2-groupe de quaternions g´en´eralis´es.<br/><br/>In modular representation theory, endo-permutation modules occupy an important position. Indeed, the role that these modules play, in the analysis of the structure of some particular simple modules for finite p-nilpotent groups, induced E. Dade, in 1978, to give them their current name. A few years later, L. Puig proved that the source of any simple module for any finite psolvable group is an endo-permutation module. More recently, the occurrence of endo-permutation modules has also been noticed in the local analysis of splendid equivalences between derived categories and in the study of fusion systems. We consider the following situation. Given a prime number p, a finite pgroup P and an algebraically closed field k of characteristic p, we are looking for all finitely generated indecomposable capped endo-permutation kP-modules. That is, all finitely generated indecomposable kP-modules such that their endomorphism algebra is a permutation kP-module having a trivial direct summand. Then, we define an equivalence relation on the set of all isomorphism classes of such modules, and it turns out that the tensor product (over k) induces a structure of abelian group on this set. We call this group the Dade group of P. Hence, classifying all indecomposable finitely generated capped endo-permutation kPmodules is equivalent to determining the Dade group of P. At present, the Dade group of an arbitrary finite p-group is still unknown. However, E. Dade computed the Dade group of all finite abelian p-groups, in 1978 already. The first part of this doctoral thesis is concerned with the problem of the classification in the general case and solve it in the case of two families of finite p-groups, namely the metacyclic p-groups, for an odd prime number p, and the extraspecial 2-groups of the shape D8 _· · ·_D8. These two choices have been motivated by the fact that these groups are not far from being abelian. Moreover, some general results concerning the Dade group of arbitrary finite p-groups suggest that the Dade group of the groups belonging to these two families is easier to study. In the second part of this thesis, we have been looking at two particular occurrences of these modules in representation theory of finite groups which motivate the interest of their classification. Thus, we realised endo-permutation modules as sources of simple modules. In particular, it turns out that, in case p is an odd prime, any indecomposable module whose class in the Dade group is a torsion element is the source of some simple module. Finally, we considered all the modules we know at present and determined which ones have an endo-split permutation resolution. We could then conclude that all but the "exceptionnal" modules occurring in the generalized quaternion case have an endo-split permutation resolution.<br/><br/>"Module d?endo-permutation" n?est pas le nom d?une maladie exotique contagieuse (du moins pas `a ma connaissance), comme vous pourriez peut-?etre l?imaginer si vous faites partie des personnes qui croient que le titre de docteur n?est destin´e qu?aux m´edecins. Dans ce cas, il se peut que le sujet dont il est question ici vous cause quelques naus´ees et r´eveille de douloureux souvenirs d?´ecole, car un module d?endo-permutation est un objet math´ematique, alg´ebrique, plus pr´ecis´ement. Ce concept a ´et´e introduit il y a un quart de si`ecle, de l?autre c?ot´e de l?Atlantique, et il s?est r´ev´el´e su_samment int´eressant pour qu?aujourd?hui il ait franchi bien des fronti`eres, celles de l?alg`ebre y compris. Mais de quoi s?agit-il ? Si vous entendez le terme "endo-permutation" probablement pour la premi`ere fois, ce n?est certainement pas le cas pour celui de "module". Cependant, sa d´efinition dans le pr´esent contexte ne co¨ýncide avec aucune de celles figurant dans les dictionnaires ordinaires. Les personnes qui ont d´ej`a entendu parler de Frobenius, Burnside, Schur, ou encore Brauer, pourront vous dire qu?un module est une repr´esentation. "De quoi ?" vous demanderezvous. "Un spectacle de marionnettes, peut-?etre ?" Bien s?ur que non ! Un module d?endo-permutation est une repr´esentation particuli`ere de certains groupes finis, o`u un groupe n?est pas un groupe de rock, comme vous pouvez vous en douter, mais d´esigne un objet math´ematique connu par tous les ´etudiants en sciences au terme de leur premi`ere ann´ee universitaire (en th´eorie, du moins). La "popularit´e" de la notion de groupe, fini ou non, est due au fait que les groupes sont fr´equemment utilis´es, aussi bien dans le domaine abstrait des math´ematiques, que dans le monde r´eel des physiciens, chimistes et autres biologistes (pour ne citer qu?eux). "Mais comment peut-on utiliser concr`etement ces objets invisibles ?" vous demanderez-vous alors. Et bien, justement, en les consid´erant par l?interm´ediaire de leurs repr´esentations, c?est-`a-dire en leur associant des matrices, de fa¸con plus ou moins naturelle. Or, comme il y a "beaucoup trop" de matrices pour un groupe donn´e, elles sont classifi´ees selon certaines de leurs propri´et´es, ce qui permet de les r´epertorier dans diverses familles (celle des modules d?endo-permutation, par exemple). Un groupe est ainsi rendu "concret", car les donn´ees matricielles sont manipulables par tous les scienti- fiques (et leurs ordinateurs), qui peuvent alors les utiliser dans leurs recherches, afin de contribuer au progr`es de la science. En toute franchise, c?est bien loin de ces soucis terre-`a-terre que ce travail de th`ese sur la classification des modules d?endo-permutation a ´et´e accompli. En fait, quitte `a choquer certaines ?ames sensibles, sa r´ealisation est surtout due au caract`ere ´epicure de son auteur, qui, avouons-le, en a ´et´e pleinement satisfait !

Choice of Optimal MembraneProcesses for Economical Treatment of Paper Machine Clear Filtrate

In this thesis membrane filtration of paper machnie clear filtrate was studied. The aim of the study was to find membrane processes which are able to produce economically water of sufficient purity from paper machine white water or its saveall clarified fractions for reuse in the paper machnie short circulation. Factors affecting membrane fouling in this application were also studied. The thesis gives an overview af experiments done on a laboratory and a pilot scale with several different membranes and membrane modules. The results were judged by the obtained flux, the fouling tendency and the permeate quality assessed with various chemical analyses. It was shown that membrane modules which used a turbulence promotor of some kind gave the highest fluexes. However, the results showed that the greater the reduction in the concentration polarisation layer caused by increased turbulence in the module, the smaller the reductions in measured substances. Out of the micro-, ultra- and nanofiltration membranes tested, only nanofiltration memebranes produced permeate whose quality was very close to that of the chemically treated raw water used as fresh water in most paper mills today and which should thus be well suited for reuse as shower water both in the wire and press section. It was also shown that a one stage nanofiltration process was more effective than processes in which micro- or ultrafiltration was used as pretreatment for nanofiltration. It was generally observed that acidic pH, high organic matter content, the presence of multivalent ions, hydrophobic membrane material and high membrane cutoff increased the fouling tendency of the membranes.

Studies on integrating kinematic design method with mechanical systems simulation techniques

Theultimate goal of any research in the mechanism/kinematic/design area may be called predictive design, ie the optimisation of mechanism proportions in the design stage without requiring extensive life and wear testing. This is an ambitious goal and can be realised through development and refinement of numerical (computational) technology in order to facilitate the design analysis and optimisation of complex mechanisms, mechanical components and systems. As a part of the systematic design methodology this thesis concentrates on kinematic synthesis (kinematic design and analysis) methods in the mechanism synthesis process. The main task of kinematic design is to find all possible solutions in the form of structural parameters to accomplish the desired requirements of motion. Main formulations of kinematic design can be broadly divided to exact synthesis and approximate synthesis formulations. The exact synthesis formulation is based in solving n linear or nonlinear equations in n variables and the solutions for the problem areget by adopting closed form classical or modern algebraic solution methods or using numerical solution methods based on the polynomial continuation or homotopy. The approximate synthesis formulations is based on minimising the approximation error by direct optimisation The main drawbacks of exact synthesis formulationare: (ia) limitations of number of design specifications and (iia) failure in handling design constraints- especially inequality constraints. The main drawbacks of approximate synthesis formulations are: (ib) it is difficult to choose a proper initial linkage and (iib) it is hard to find more than one solution. Recentformulations in solving the approximate synthesis problem adopts polynomial continuation providing several solutions, but it can not handle inequality const-raints. Based on the practical design needs the mixed exact-approximate position synthesis with two exact and an unlimited number of approximate positions has also been developed. The solutions space is presented as a ground pivot map but thepole between the exact positions cannot be selected as a ground pivot. In this thesis the exact synthesis problem of planar mechanism is solved by generating all possible solutions for the optimisation process ¿ including solutions in positive dimensional solution sets - within inequality constraints of structural parameters. Through the literature research it is first shown that the algebraic and numerical solution methods ¿ used in the research area of computational kinematics ¿ are capable of solving non-parametric algebraic systems of n equations inn variables and cannot handle the singularities associated with positive-dimensional solution sets. In this thesis the problem of positive-dimensional solutionsets is solved adopting the main principles from mathematical research area of algebraic geometry in solving parametric ( in the mathematical sense that all parameter values are considered ¿ including the degenerate cases ¿ for which the system is solvable ) algebraic systems of n equations and at least n+1 variables.Adopting the developed solution method in solving the dyadic equations in direct polynomial form in two- to three-precision-points it has been algebraically proved and numerically demonstrated that the map of the ground pivots is ambiguousand that the singularities associated with positive-dimensional solution sets can be solved. The positive-dimensional solution sets associated with the poles might contain physically meaningful solutions in the form of optimal defectfree mechanisms. Traditionally the mechanism optimisation of hydraulically driven boommechanisms is done at early state of the design process. This will result in optimal component design rather than optimal system level design. Modern mechanismoptimisation at system level demands integration of kinematic design methods with mechanical system simulation techniques. In this thesis a new kinematic design method for hydraulically driven boom mechanism is developed and integrated in mechanical system simulation techniques. The developed kinematic design method is based on the combinations of two-precision-point formulation and on optimisation ( with mathematical programming techniques or adopting optimisation methods based on probability and statistics ) of substructures using calculated criteria from the system level response of multidegree-of-freedom mechanisms. Eg. by adopting the mixed exact-approximate position synthesis in direct optimisation (using mathematical programming techniques) with two exact positions and an unlimitednumber of approximate positions the drawbacks of (ia)-(iib) has been cancelled.The design principles of the developed method are based on the design-tree -approach of the mechanical systems and the design method ¿ in principle ¿ is capable of capturing the interrelationship between kinematic and dynamic synthesis simultaneously when the developed kinematic design method is integrated with the mechanical system simulation techniques.

The Interaction of the Calcium Sensitiser Levosimendan with Cardiac Troponin C

Cardiac failure is one of the leading causes of mortality in developed countries. As life expectancies of the populations of these countries grow, the number of patients suffering from cardiac insufficiency also increase. Effective treatments including the use of calcium sensitisers are being sought. They cause a positive inodilatory effect on cardio-myocytes without deleterious effects (arrhythmias) resulting from increases in intracellular calcium concentration. Levosimendan is a novel calcium sensitiser that hasbeen proved to be a welltolerated and effective treatment for patients with severe decompensated heart failure. Cardiac troponin C (cTnC) is its target protein. However, there have been controversies about the interactions between levosimendan and cTnC. Some of these controversies have been addressed in this dissertation. Furthermore, studies on the calcium sensitising mechanism based on the interactions between levosimendan and cTnC as followed by nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) are presented and discussed. Levosimendan was found to interact with bothdomains of the calcium-saturated cTnC in the absence of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). In the presence of cTnI, the C-domain binding site was blocked and levosimendan interacted only with the regulatory domain of cTnC. This interaction may have caused the observed calcium sensitising effect by priming the N-domain for cTnI binding thereby extending the lifetime of that complex. It is suggested that this is achieved by shifting the equilibrium between open and closed conformations.

Selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia in forced unsteady state reactors - Case based reasoning and mathematical model simulation reasoning

The application of forced unsteady-state reactors in case of selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) with ammonia (NH3) is sustained by the fact that favorable temperature and composition distributions which cannot be achieved in any steady-state regime can be obtained by means of unsteady-state operations. In a normal way of operation the low exothermicity of the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reaction (usually carried out in the range of 280-350°C) is not enough to maintain by itself the chemical reaction. A normal mode of operation usually requires supply of supplementary heat increasing in this way the overall process operation cost. Through forced unsteady-state operation, the main advantage that can be obtained when exothermic reactions take place is the possibility of trapping, beside the ammonia, the moving heat wave inside the catalytic bed. The unsteady state-operation enables the exploitation of the thermal storage capacity of the catalyticbed. The catalytic bed acts as a regenerative heat exchanger allowing auto-thermal behaviour when the adiabatic temperature rise is low. Finding the optimum reactor configuration, employing the most suitable operation model and identifying the reactor behavior are highly important steps in order to configure a proper device for industrial applications. The Reverse Flow Reactor (RFR) - a forced unsteady state reactor - corresponds to the above mentioned characteristics and may be employed as an efficient device for the treatment of dilute pollutant mixtures. As a main disadvantage, beside its advantages, the RFR presents the 'wash out' phenomena. This phenomenon represents emissions of unconverted reactants at every switch of the flow direction. As a consequence our attention was focused on finding an alternative reactor configuration for RFR which is not affected by the incontrollable emissions of unconverted reactants. In this respect the Reactor Network (RN) was investigated. Its configuration consists of several reactors connected in a closed sequence, simulating a moving bed by changing the reactants feeding position. In the RN the flow direction is maintained in the same way ensuring uniformcatalyst exploitation and in the same time the 'wash out' phenomena is annulated. The simulated moving bed (SMB) can operate in transient mode giving practically constant exit concentration and high conversion levels. The main advantage of the reactor network operation is emphasizedby the possibility to obtain auto-thermal behavior with nearly uniformcatalyst utilization. However, the reactor network presents only a small range of switching times which allow to reach and to maintain an ignited state. Even so a proper study of the complex behavior of the RN may give the necessary information to overcome all the difficulties that can appear in the RN operation. The unsteady-state reactors complexity arises from the fact that these reactor types are characterized by short contact times and complex interaction between heat and mass transportphenomena. Such complex interactions can give rise to a remarkable complex dynamic behavior characterized by a set of spatial-temporal patterns, chaotic changes in concentration and traveling waves of heat or chemical reactivity. The main efforts of the current research studies concern the improvement of contact modalities between reactants, the possibility of thermal wave storage inside the reactor and the improvement of the kinetic activity of the catalyst used. Paying attention to the above mentioned aspects is important when higher activity even at low feeding temperatures and low emissions of unconverted reactants are the main operation concerns. Also, the prediction of the reactor pseudo or steady-state performance (regarding the conversion, selectivity and thermal behavior) and the dynamicreactor response during exploitation are important aspects in finding the optimal control strategy for the forced unsteady state catalytic tubular reactors. The design of an adapted reactor requires knowledge about the influence of its operating conditions on the overall process performance and a precise evaluation of the operating parameters rage for which a sustained dynamic behavior is obtained. An apriori estimation of the system parameters result in diminution of the computational efforts. Usually the convergence of unsteady state reactor systems requires integration over hundreds of cycles depending on the initial guess of the parameter values. The investigation of various operation models and thermal transfer strategies give reliable means to obtain recuperative and regenerative devices which are capable to maintain an auto-thermal behavior in case of low exothermic reactions. In the present research work a gradual analysis of the SCR of NOx with ammonia process in forced unsteady-state reactors was realized. The investigation covers the presentationof the general problematic related to the effect of noxious emissions in the environment, the analysis of the suitable catalysts types for the process, the mathematical analysis approach for modeling and finding the system solutions and the experimental investigation of the device found to be more suitable for the present process. In order to gain information about the forced unsteady state reactor design, operation, important system parameters and their values, mathematical description, mathematicalmethod for solving systems of partial differential equations and other specific aspects, in a fast and easy way, and a case based reasoning (CBR) approach has been used. This approach, using the experience of past similarproblems and their adapted solutions, may provide a method for gaining informations and solutions for new problems related to the forced unsteady state reactors technology. As a consequence a CBR system was implemented and a corresponding tool was developed. Further on, grooving up the hypothesis of isothermal operation, the investigation by means of numerical simulation of the feasibility of the SCR of NOx with ammonia in the RFRand in the RN with variable feeding position was realized. The hypothesis of non-isothermal operation was taken into account because in our opinion ifa commercial catalyst is considered, is not possible to modify the chemical activity and its adsorptive capacity to improve the operation butis possible to change the operation regime. In order to identify the most suitable device for the unsteady state reduction of NOx with ammonia, considering the perspective of recuperative and regenerative devices, a comparative analysis of the above mentioned two devices performance was realized. The assumption of isothermal conditions in the beginningof the forced unsteadystate investigation allowed the simplification of the analysis enabling to focus on the impact of the conditions and mode of operation on the dynamic features caused by the trapping of one reactant in the reactor, without considering the impact of thermal effect on overall reactor performance. The non-isothermal system approach has been investigated in order to point out the important influence of the thermal effect on overall reactor performance, studying the possibility of RFR and RN utilization as recuperative and regenerative devices and the possibility of achieving a sustained auto-thermal behavior in case of lowexothermic reaction of SCR of NOx with ammonia and low temperature gasfeeding. Beside the influence of the thermal effect, the influence of the principal operating parameters, as switching time, inlet flow rate and initial catalyst temperature have been stressed. This analysis is important not only because it allows a comparison between the two devices and optimisation of the operation, but also the switching time is the main operating parameter. An appropriate choice of this parameter enables the fulfilment of the process constraints. The level of the conversions achieved, the more uniform temperature profiles, the uniformity ofcatalyst exploitation and the much simpler mode of operation imposed the RN as a much more suitable device for SCR of NOx with ammonia, in usual operation and also in the perspective of control strategy implementation. Theoretical simplified models have also been proposed in order to describe the forced unsteady state reactors performance and to estimate their internal temperature and concentration profiles. The general idea was to extend the study of catalytic reactor dynamics taking into account the perspectives that haven't been analyzed yet. The experimental investigation ofRN revealed a good agreement between the data obtained by model simulation and the ones obtained experimentally.

Scaling behavior of random knots.

Using numerical simulations we investigate how overall dimensions of random knots scale with their length. We demonstrate that when closed non-self-avoiding random trajectories are divided into groups consisting of individual knot types, then each such group shows the scaling exponent of approximately 0.588 that is typical for self-avoiding walks. However, when all generated knots are grouped together, their scaling exponent becomes equal to 0.5 (as in non-self-avoiding random walks). We explain here this apparent paradox. We introduce the notion of the equilibrium length of individual types of knots and show its correlation with the length of ideal geometric representations of knots. We also demonstrate that overall dimensions of random knots with a given chain length follow the same order as dimensions of ideal geometric representations of knots.

Epidemiology of foodborne Norovirus outbreaks in Catalonia, Spain

Background: Noroviruses are one of the principal biological agents associated with the consumption of contaminated food. The objective of this study was to analyse the size and epidemiological characteristics of foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Catalonia, a region in the northeast of Spain. Methods: In all reported outbreaks of gastroenteritis associated with food consumption, faecal samples of persons affected were analysed for bacteria and viruses and selectively for parasites. Study variables included the setting, the number of people exposed, age, sex, clinical signs and hospital admissions. The study was carried out from October 2004 to October 2005. Results: Of the 181 outbreaks reported during the study period, 72 were caused by Salmonella and 30 by norovirus (NoV); the incidence rates were 14.5 and 9.9 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. In 50% of the NoV outbreaks and 27% of the bacterial outbreaks (p = 0.03) the number of persons affected was ≥10; 66.7% of NoV outbreaks occurred in restaurants; no differences in the attack rates were observed according to the etiology. Hospitalizations were more common (p = 0.03) in bacterial outbreaks (8.6%) than in NoV outbreaks (0.15%). Secondary cases accounted for 4% of cases in NoV outbreaks compared with 0.3% of cases in bacterial outbreaks (p < 0.001) Conclusion: Norovirus outbreaks were larger but less frequent than bacterial outbreaks, suggesting that underreporting is greater for NoV outbreaks. Food handlers should receive training on the transmission of infections in diverse situations. Very strict control measures on handwashing and environmental disinfection should be adopted in closed or partially-closed institutions.

Valuing equity-linked death benefits in jump diffusion models

The paper is motivated by the valuation problem of guaranteed minimum death benefits in various equity-linked products. At the time of death, a benefit payment is due. It may depend not only on the price of a stock or stock fund at that time, but also on prior prices. The problem is to calculate the expected discounted value of the benefit payment. Because the distribution of the time of death can be approximated by a combination of exponential distributions, it suffices to solve the problem for an exponentially distributed time of death. The stock price process is assumed to be the exponential of a Brownian motion plus an independent compound Poisson process whose upward and downward jumps are modeled by combinations (or mixtures) of exponential distributions. Results for exponential stopping of a Lévy process are used to derive a series of closed-form formulas for call, put, lookback, and barrier options, dynamic fund protection, and dynamic withdrawal benefit with guarantee. We also discuss how barrier options can be used to model lapses and surrenders.

The concept of temporal 'plus' epilepsy.

The concept of temporal 'plus' epilepsy (T+E) is not new, and a number of observations made by means of intracerebral electrodes have illustrated the complexity of neuronal circuits that involve the temporal lobe. The term T+E was used to unify and better individualize these specific forms of multilobar epilepsies, which are characterized by electroclinical features primarily suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy, MRI findings that are either unremarkable or show signs of hippocampal sclerosis, and intracranial recordings which demonstrate that seizures arise from a complex epileptogenic network including a combination of brain regions located within the temporal lobe and over closed neighbouring structures such as the orbitofrontal cortex, the insulo-opercular region, and the temporo-parieto-occipital junction. We will review here how the term of T+E has emerged, what it means, and which practical consideration it raises.

Vacuum-assisted closure device for the management of infected postpneumonectomy chest cavities.

BACKGROUND: Infected postpneumonectomy chest cavities may be related to chronic postpneumonectomy empyema or arise in rare situations of necrotizing pneumonia with complete lung destruction where pneumonectomy and pleural debridement are required. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of an intrathoracic vacuum-assisted closure device (VAC) for the treatment of infected postpneumonectomy chest cavities. METHOD: A retrospective single institution review of all patients with infected postpneumonectomy chest cavities treated by VAC between 2005 and 2013. Patients underwent surgical debridement of the thoracic cavity, muscle flap closure of the bronchial stump when a fistula was present, and repeated intrathoracic VAC dressings until granulation tissue covered the entire chest cavity. After this, the cavity was obliterated by a Clagett procedure and closed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (14 men and 7 women) underwent VAC treatment of their infected postpneumonectomy chest cavity. Twelve patients presented with a chronic postpneumonectomy empyema (10 of them with a bronchopleural fistula) and 9 patients with an empyema occurring in the context of necrotizing pneumonia treated by pneumonectomy. In-hospital mortality was 23%. The median duration of VAC therapy was 23 days (range, 4-61 days) and the median number of VAC changes per patient was 6 (range, 2-14 days). Infection control and successful chest cavity closure was achieved in all surviving patients. One adverse VAC treatment-related event was identified (5%). CONCLUSIONS: The intrathoracic VAC application is a safe and efficient treatment of infected postpneumonectomy chest cavities and allows the preservation of chest wall integrity.

Preferential reproduction mode of hermaphrodite papaya plant (Carica papaya L; Caricaceae)

This research was done to study the reproductive system of papaya hermaphrodite plant based on the histochemical nature of pollen grain, stigma receptivity, in vivo pollen grain germination and pollen:ovule ratio. In the histochemical analysis, pollen grains were stained by using Sudan IV and I2KI solution ; the stigma receptivity was assessed by alpha-naphthtyl acetate solution in closed and opened flowers. Pollen germination and pollen tube growing were examined in flower buds near anthesis with 0.1% aniline blue. To estimate the pollen:ovule ratio , anthers from each flower bud were dissected and all pollen grains were counted; ovules were dissected from ovaries and were counted under stereomicroscope. The results indicated that papaya pollen grains are of lipidic nature; the stigmas were receptive before the opening and until 48 hours after opening; the pollen grains germinated and emitted polinic tube before flower opening and the pollen:ovule ratio indicated the predominance of autogamous reproductive system. These results indicate that hermaphrodite papaya trees is preferentially of optional autogamous with cleistogamy.

Anaerobic treatment of deinking pulp plant effluents

Anaerobic treatment as a first biological stage in wastewater treatment is nowadays a well-established technology in recycled paper processing mills using closed water circuits. Today further developed high-rate processes and especially high-tower reactors are also able to handle lower organic loads and become therefore feasible for deinking pulp plant effluents. The interest in the anaerobic method is based on a positive energy balance in form of biogas production and low biomass yield from the process. The anaerobic treatment method was researched and its suitability for the deinking pulp plant effluents was tested experimentally at Stora Enso Maxau mill. In the theory, the deinking pulp process is introduced and the effluents from the deinking process are characterized. The anaerobic treatment is brought up in depth in terms of its use for the deinking effluents, and different kind of reactor types are presented. In addition, other wastewater treatment methods are shortly introduced with the focus on tertiary treatment. Static biodegradability tests were carried out for the wastewaters both anaerobically and aerobically. Based on the results, the deinking effluents can be degraded anaerobically, and inhibition to the methanogenic bacteria was not noticed. In the aerobic static test a good performance of the existing wastewater treatment plant at Maxau mill was proved. Later on pilot trials with sequential anaerobic-aerobic treatment were carried out for the deinking effluents. The anaerobic reactor used was a so called internal circulation reactor. The results confirmed that the combination of the anaerobic treatment and the aerobic activated sludge process is a suitable method for deinking wastewaters with a COD reduction as good as with a two stage aerobic method. When combined with the outstanding quality of the produced biogas and the cost savings acquired from the lower sludge production, the anaerobic treatment was found to be an especially favorable treatment method.