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Biomedical subjects

L Masse

Publications and source records attributed to L Masse.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Deflagration-to-detonation transition in inertial-confinement-fusion baseline targets.

By means of highly resolved one-dimensional hydrodynamics simulations, we provide an understanding of the burn process in inertial-confinement-fusion baseline targets. The cornerstone of the phenomenology of propagating burn in such laser-driven capsules is shown to be the transition from a slow unsteady reaction-diffusion regime of thermonuclear combustion (some sort of deflagration) to a fast detonative one. Remarkably, detonation initiation follows the slowing down of a shockless supersonic reaction wave driven by energy redeposition from the fusion products themselves. Such a route to detonation is specific to fusion plasmas.

Journal Article↗

The development of experimental procedures for the evaluation of additives to attenuate manure odour, and the impact of these additives on workers, animals and the environment.

The objective of this project was to develop a laboratory research protocol to evaluate the effect of additives on manure odour and physico-chemical characteristics, and establish conditions that are representative of those found in farm storage structures (temperature, solids content, pH, ventilation above the manure surface, storage period). The results suggested that system configuration might have an impact on additive effect. An open system should be used when it is recommended that additives be applied in the animal diet or the gutters. Additionally, the surface/depth ratio of the gutter should be respected, since it will impact on the relative importance of the aerobic layer and on ammonia volatilization. On the other hand, a closed system should be used when the additive is applied to the manure storage tank, especially if the tank has a cover. Odour analysis still requires fundamental research to establish reliable procedures and protocols, especially in the area sample collection and dilution levels required to decrease H2S concentration to safe levels for the panellists. Odour analysis should also be conducted in triplicate, because of the possible large experimental error due to dilution, the human factors, and also instrumental error.

Ammonia↗

Weakly nonlinear theory for the ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability.

A weakly nonlinear model is proposed for the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in the presence of ablation and thermal transport. The second harmonic generation efficiency of a single-mode disturbance is computed, as well as the nonlinear correction to the exponential growth of the fundamental modulation. Mode coupling in the spectrum of a multimode disturbance is thoroughly analyzed. The ablative stabilization can be clearly discussed because the derived formulas for the evanescent ablation rate are in agreement with previously known results for incompressible, inviscid, irrotational, and immiscible fluids [S. W. Haan, Phys. Fluids B 3, 2349 (1991)]; M. Berning and A. M. Rubenchik, Phys. Fluids 10, 1564 (1998)]].

Journal Article↗

The effect of temperature on slaughterhouse wastewater treatment in anaerobic sequencing batch reactors.

High strength slaughterhouse wastewater was treated in four 42 l anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (ASBRs) operated at 30 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 20 degrees C. The wastewater contained between 30% and 53% of its chemical oxygen demand (COD) as suspended solids (SS). The ASBRs could easily support volumetric organic loading rates (OLRs) of 4.93, 2.94 and 2.75 kg/m3/d (biomass OLRs of 0.44, 0.42 and 0.14 g/g volatile SS (VSS)/d) at 30 degrees C, 25 degrees C, and 20 degrees C, respectively. At all operating temperatures, the total COD (TCOD) and soluble COD (SCOD) were reduced by over 92%, while average SS removal varied between 80% and 96%. Over the experimental period, 90.8%, 88.7% and 84.2% of the COD removed was transformed into methane at 30 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 20 degrees C, respectively. The decrease in the conversion of the COD removed into methane as operating temperature was lowered, may be partly explained by a lower degradation of influent SS as temperature was reduced. The reactors showed a high average methanogenic activity of 0.37, 0.34 and 0.12 g CH4-COD/gVSS/d (22.4, 12.7 and 11.8 l/d) at 30 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 20 degrees C, respectively. The average methane content in the biogas increased from 74.7% to 78.2% as temperature was lowered from 30 degrees C to 20 degrees C.

Abattoirs↗

Testing of alkaline and enzymatic hydrolysis pretreatments for fat particles in slaughterhouse wastewater.

Four pretreatments to hydrolyse and/or reduce the size of fat particles in slaughterhouse wastewater (SHW) were tested: sodium hydroxide and three lipases of plant, bacterial and animal (pancreatic) origin. Hydrolysing agents and SHW containing between 2.5 and 3 g/l of fat particles were mixed at room temperature for 4 h. Additions of 5-400 meq NaOH/l did not increase soluble COD (SCOD) in SHW, but the average particle size was reduced to 73% +/- 7% of the initial average particle size (D(in)) at NaOH concentrations ranging from 150 to 300 meq/l. Pretreatment with pancreatic lipase PL-250 reduced the average particle size to a maximum of 60% +/- 3% of D(in). As D(in) was decreased from 359 to 68 microns, the enzyme concentration required to obtain the maximum particle size reduction increased from 200 to 1000 mg/l. A 4-h pretreatment with PL-250 also increased the free long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) concentration to a maximum of 15.5 mg/l, indicating some solubilization of the pork fat particles in SHW. SCOD was not significantly increased by the pretreatment, but SCOD was not found to be a good indicator of enzymatic lipolysis because of enzyme adsorption on the fat particle surface. Pancreatic lipase appeared more efficient with beef fat than pork fat, possibly because beef fat contains less polyunsaturated fatty acids than pork fat. The bacterial lipase LG-1000 was also efficient in reducing average fat particle size, but high doses (> 1000 mg/l) were required to obtain a significant reduction after 4 h of pretreatment. SCOD was not increased by pretreatment with LG-1000. No particle size reduction or changes in SCOD were noted after 4 h of pretreatment with the plant lipase EcoSystem Plus. It was concluded that PL-250 was the best pretreatment to hydrolyse fat particles in SHW. However, its impact on the efficiency of a downstream anaerobic digestion process remains to be tested.

Abattoirs↗

[Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Brittany].

In the period 1976-1978 a study of the prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Brittany was conducted using data collected from hospital neurology units, Social Security offices and institutions for chronic patients. After elimination of double entries, analysis of these data showed a prevalence of 25 for 100 000 people. This was less than expected from estimates for northern France and from the known prevalences in the southern part of the British isles. When broken down according to the patients' place of residence, the figures were found to vary from one district to another, with four main foci: two near the coast, one inland and one in the town of Fougères. Disease-free areas were present near these foci.

Climate↗