Whiteflies are one of the major pests of tomato under greenhouses, and their control partly relies on biocontrol strategies. Among those biocontrol agents, parasitoids or predators are widely used. However, the introduction of a biocontrol agent in a new area is not trivial. For that reason, we investigated the use of a tropical native mirid, Nesidiocoris volucer (Hemiptera: Miridae), for the biological control of whiteflies among other insect pests on tomato crops under greenhouses in the subtropical island of La Réunion, France. Nesidiocoris volucer life history traits and plant injury were examined. Nymphs developed and survived between 15 and 30°C and required on average 49.41 days at 15°C and on average 10.50 days at 30°C to develop (nymph survival >94%). At 25°C, each female produced on average 65 eggs. Nesidiocoris volucer was able to feed on several prey species, but performed better on whiteflies than on spider mites or thrips. No N. volucer feeding injury was observed on tomato. Nesidiocoris volucer has also been found in tropical countries of Africa, and we believe that the data presented on this natural enemy could be of great importance for the biocontrol of whiteflies in tropical areas.

The problem of finite-time tracking control for n-link flexible-joint robot manipulators is addressed. An adaptive fuzzy finite-time command-filtered backstepping control scheme is presented to solve the following problems: “explosion of terms” problem, finite-time stabilization of the closed-loop system, and the reduction of computational cost. To this end, new virtual adaptive control signals and new finite-time error compensation mechanism are constructed using inherent properties of robot manipulator systems. Based on the Lyapunov theory, the finite-time stabilization of the closed-loop system is proved. Simulation studies show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Snow, from its fall until its full melting, undergoes a structural metamorphism that is governed by temperature and humidity fields. Among the many possible mechanisms that contribute to snow metamorphism, those that depend only on curvature are the most accessible to modelling. In this paper, techniques of volume data analysis adapted to the complex geometry of snow are introduced and then applied to experimental tomographic data coming from the isothermal metamorphism of snow near 0°C. In particular, an adaptive algorithm of curvature computation is described. Present results on the evolution of specific surface area and anisotropy already show that such image-analysis methods are relevant tools for the characterization of real snow microstructures. Moreover, the evolution of the curvature distribution with time provides valuable information for the development of sintering models, in the same way as a possible quantitative calibration of snow-grain coarsening laws.

The new approaches in absorption X-ray microtomography allow snow-volume image acquisition in the cm3 range without destroying snow structure, and make it possible to perform micromechanical studies with the real geometry. The main objective of this paper is to introduce the development of a new three-dimensional (3-D) geometry modeling and finite-element analysis simulation package adapted to these scales. These new code modules and procedures are briefly described using an isothermal metamorphism snow experiment (–2°C, 3 months).This sample of aged snow (3.375mm3; 3003 voxels) allows simulation of a simple hypothetical uniaxial compressive stress experiment. The constitutive equations, boundary conditions, basic assumptions and the result showing the stress field over the 3-D data are discussed. The first qualitative results show a maximum stress of 6–9MPa in some small bonds, showing the potential of these codes to simulate the micromechanical behavior of complex materials.

X-ray microtomography has become an essential tool for investigating the mechanical and physical properties of snow, which are tied to its microstructure. To allow a quantitative characterization of the microstructure, the grayscale X-ray attenuation coefficient image has to be segmented into a binary ice/pore image. This step, called binary segmentation, is crucial and affects all subsequent analysis and modeling. Common segmentation methods are based on thresholding. In practice, these methods present some drawbacks and often require time-consuming manual post-processing. Here we present a binary segmentation algorithm based on the minimization of a segmentation energy. This energy is composed of a data fidelity term and a regularization term penalizing large interface area, which is of particular interest for snow where sintering naturally tends to reduce the surface energy. The accuracy of the method is demonstrated on a synthetic image. The method is then successfully applied on microtomographic images of snow and compared to the threshold-based segmentation. The main advantage of the presented approach is that it benefits from local spatial information. Moreover, the effective resolution of the segmented image is clearly defined and can be chosen a priori.

This study examined the correlates of dietary energy under-reporting (UR) and over-reporting (OV) in European adolescents. Two self-administered computerised 24-h dietary recalls and physical activity data using accelerometry were collected from 1512 adolescents aged 12·5–17·5 years from eight European countries. Objective measurements of height and weight were obtained. BMI was categorised according to Cole/International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off points. Diet-related attitudes were assessed via self-administered questionnaires. Reported energy intake (EI) was compared with predicted total energy expenditure to identify UR and OV using individual physical activity objective measures. Associations between misreporting and covariates were examined by multilevel logistic regression analyses. Among all, 33·3 % of the adolescents were UR and 15·6 % were OV when considering mean EI. Overweight (OR 3·25; 95 % CI 2·01, 5·27) and obese (OR 4·31; 95 % CI 1·92, 9·65) adolescents had higher odds for UR, whereas underweight individuals were more likely to over-report (OR 1·67; 95 % CI 1·01, 2·76). Being content with their own figures (OR 0·61; 95 % CI 0·41, 0·89) decreased the odds for UR, whereas frequently skipping breakfast (OR 2·14; 95 % CI 1·53, 2·99) was linked with higher odds for UR. Those being worried about gaining weight (OR 0·55; 95 % CI 0·33, 0·92) were less likely to OV. Weight status and psychosocial weight-related factors were found to be the major correlates of misreporting. Misreporting may reflect socially desirable answers and low ability to report own dietary intakes, but also may reflect real under-eating in an attempt to lose weight or real over-eating to reflect higher intakes due to growth spurts. Factors influencing misreporting should be identified in youths to clarify or better understand diet–disease associations.

Two female woolly mammoth neonates from permafrost in the Siberian Arctic are the most complete mammoth specimens known. Lyuba, found on the Yamal Peninsula, and Khroma, from northernmost Yakutia, died at ages of approximately one and two months, respectively. Both specimens were CT-scanned, yielding detailed information on the stage of development of their dentition and skeleton and insight into conditions associated with death. Both mammoths died after aspirating mud. Khroma's body was frozen soon after death, leaving her tissues in excellent condition, whereas Lyuba's body underwent postmortem changes that resulted in authigenic formation of nodules of the mineral vivianite associated with her cranium and within diaphyses of long bones. CT data provide the only comprehensive approach to mapping vivianite distribution. Three-dimensional modeling and measurement of segmented long bones permits comparison between these individuals and with previously recovered specimens. CT scans of long bones and foot bones show developmental features such as density gradients that reveal ossification centers. The braincase of Khroma was segmented to show the approximate morphology of the brain; its volume is slightly less (∼2,300 cm3) than that of neonate elephants (∼2,500 cm3). Lyuba's premaxillae are more gracile than those of Khroma, possibly a result of temporal and/or geographic variation but probably also reflective of their age difference. Segmentation of CT data and 3-D modeling software were used to produce models of teeth that were too complex for traditional molding and casting techniques.

Since 1991, in France, studies on the conditioning of iodine were carried out to assess the potential of several specific inorganic host matrices. The apatite family has been mainly studied because of its good chemical durability and its ability to confine iodine over geological time scales. A lead-bearing apatite, Pb10(VO4)4.8(PO4)1.2I2, and a calcium-bearing apatite, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2-x(IO3)x, were selected on the basis of their incorporation rate (between 7 and 10 wt.%) and a satisfactory resistance to leaching (V0(50 °C, pure water) ∼ 10-2 g.m-2.d-1; Vr(50 °C, pure water) < 10-4 g.m-2.d-1). However, with such materials, the removal of open porosity requires non conventional sintering techniques like spark plasma sintering to decrease the surface exposed to water. This is why, in parallel, other matrices, like silver phosphate glasses, have also been investigated. To improve the chemical durability and thermal properties of these glasses, cross-linking reagents were added to their formulation.

The optimization of the figure of merit of thermoelectric materials requires the simultaneous control of the material composition and microstructure. Assembly of nanoparticles obtained by a solution route is an attractive bulk fabrication method because size and shape of the nanoparticles can be tuned by variation of the synthesis conditions. Recently, new synthetic pathways were reported among which reducing agent assisted, surfactant free processes. We report here the evaluation of this method for the synthesis of Bi2TexSe3-x alloyed nanoparticles with varying selenium concentrations. X-ray diffraction studies conducted on powder and pellet samples show that two alloyed phases are present in the sample even at low selenium content. The careful study of the position of the diffraction peaks as function of the formulation shows that this behaviour could arise from the difference in reactivity of selenium and tellurium. Moreover, the electrical conductivity of the samples is shown to increase upon selenium addition while the Seebeck coefficient is reduced. Power factor shows an optimum value around 20% selenium content with a large tolerance in composition.

This paper deals with the development of a new generation of electric motors (7.5–15 kW) for automotive powertrains. The target is a full electric direct drive vehicle, for the particular application to heavy quadricycles. An original axial flux PM structure is proposed due to the simplicity of its manufacturing. However it leads to a 3D structure, difficult to study. The paper deals with analytical models that can be used to achieve the analysis and the sizing of the motor. The electromagnetic behavior is modeled using a simple magnetic equivalent network and the thermal behavior is analyzed with a thermal network. Finally, the analytical results are compared to those experimentally obtained and it proves the interest of the proposed structure: the construction is simple and the performances are satisfying.

Evidence has grown supporting the role for short sleep duration as an independent risk factor for weight gain and obesity. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between sleep duration and dietary quality in European adolescents. The sample consisted of 1522 adolescents (aged 12·5–17·5 years) participating in the European multi-centre cross-sectional ‘Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence’ study. Sleep duration was estimated by a self-reported questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed by two 24 h recalls. The Diet Quality Index for Adolescents with Meal index (DQI-AM) was used to calculate overall dietary quality, considering the components dietary equilibrium, dietary diversity, dietary quality and a meal index. An average sleep duration of ≥ 9 h was classified as optimal, between 8 and 9 h as borderline insufficient and < 8 h as insufficient. Sleep duration and the DQI-AM score were positively associated (β = 0·027, r 0·130, P< 0·001). Adolescents with insufficient (62·05 (sd 14·18)) and borderline insufficient sleep (64·25 (sd 12·87)) scored lower on the DQI-AM than adolescents with an optimal sleep duration (64·57 (sd 12·39)) (P< 0·001; P= 0·018). The present study demonstrated in European adolescents that short sleep duration was associated with a lower dietary quality. This supports the hypothesis that the health consequences of insufficient sleep may be mediated by the relationship of insufficient sleep to poor dietary quality.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a sharp analysis on the asymptotic behavior of the Durbin–Watson statistic. We focus our attention on the first-order autoregressive process where the driven noise is also given by a first-order autoregressive process. We establish the almost sure convergence and the asymptotic normality for both the least squares estimator of the unknown parameter of the autoregressive process as well as for the serial correlation estimator associated with the driven noise. In addition, the almost sure rates of convergence of our estimates are also provided. It allows us to establish the almost sure convergence and the asymptotic normality for the Durbin–Watson statistic. Finally, we propose a new bilateral statistical test for residual autocorrelation. We show how our statistical test procedure performs better, from a theoretical and a practical point of view, than the commonly used Box–Pierce and Ljung–Box procedures, even on small-sized samples.

The potential benefits on human health have prompted an interest in developing nutritional strategies for specifically increasing rumenic acid (RA) in ruminant milk. The aims of the present study were to (i) compare two dietary treatments with lipid supplements on milk yield and composition, (ii) measure the in vivo Δ9-desaturation of vaccenic acid (VA) to RA using 13C-labelled VA and (iii) determine the effect of the dietary treatments on this variable. Treatments were 90 g sunflower-seed oil (SO) per d or 60 g sunflower-seed oil and 30 g fish oil per d plus additional starch (SFO), in a grassland hay-based diet given to eight Alpine goats in a 2 × 2 cross-over design with 21 d experimental periods. Milk yield and composition were similar between treatments. Goats fed SFO had higher milk 6 : 0–16 : 0 concentration, lower milk ΣC18 concentrations and showed no effect on milk VA and RA, compared with SO. At the end of the experiment, intravenous injection of 1·5 g [13C]VA followed by measurements of milk lipid 13C enrichment showed that in vivo 31·7 and 31·6 % of VA was Δ9-desaturated into milk RA in the caprine with the SO and SFO treatments, respectively. The expression of genes encoding for Δ9-desaturase (or stearoyl-CoA desaturase; SCD1, SCD5) in mammary tissues and four milk Δ9-desaturation ratios were similar between treatments. In conclusion, the present study provides the first estimates of in vivo endogenous synthesis of RA (63–73 % of milk RA) from VA in goats, and shows no difference between the two lipid supplements compared.

From an evolutionary viewpoint, the molluscan nacre constitutes a fascinating object. This microstructure appeared early, in the Lower Cambrian period, about 530 million years ago, and since then, has been kept unchanged until today. Nacre is restricted to the conchiferan mollusks, where it occurs in t least three main classes, bivalves, gastropods and cephalopods. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether all nacres are built from the same “macromolecular tools”, proteins of the nacre matrix. To this end, we studied three new nacre models, the freshwater bivalve Unio pictorum, the cephalopod Nautilus macromphalus, and the gastropod Haliotis asinina, to which we applied a combined biochemical and proteomic characterization of their respective nacre matrices. The results of our approach, that can be defined as “shellomics” (proteomics applied to shell proteins) shed a new light on the macroevolution of nacre matrix proteins and on the in vitro design of nacre-like biomaterials.

We analysed the patterns of variation that characterize 33 catch time series of large pelagic fishes exploited by the Japanese and Taiwanese longline fisheries in the Indian Ocean from 1968 to 2003. We selected four species, the yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), the bigeye (T. obesus), the albacore (T. alalunga), and the swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and aggregated data into five biogeographic provinces of Longhurst (2001). We carried out waveletanalyses, an efficient method to study non-stationary time series, in orderto get the time-scale patterns of each signals. We then compared and grouped the different wavelet spectra using a multivariate analysis to identify thefactors (species, province or fleet) that may influence their clustering. We also investigated the associations between catch time series and a large-scale climatic index, the Dipole Mode Index (DMI), using cross wavelet analyses. Our results evidenced that the geographical province is more important than the species level when analyzing the 33 catch time series inthe tropical Indian Ocean. The DMI further impacted the variability of tunaand swordfish catch time series at several periodic bands and at different temporal locations, and we demonstrated that the geographic locations modulated its impact. We discussed the consistency of time series fluctuations that reflect embedded information and complex interactionsbetween biological processes, fishing strategies and environmental variability at different scales.

This open study evaluates the effect of agomelatine, a melatonergic receptor agonist and 5-HT2C antagonist antidepressant, on sleep architecture in patients suffering from major depressive disorder. Fifteen outpatients with a baseline HAMD score ⩾20 were treated with 25 mg/d agomelatine for 42 d. Polysomographic studies were performed at baseline, day 7, day 14, and day 42. Sleep efficiency, time awake after sleep onset and the total amount of slow-wave sleep (SWS) increased at week 6. The increase of SWS was predominant during the first sleep cycle. The amount of SWS decreased throughout the first four sleep cycles from day 7 and delta ratio increased from day 14 onwards. No change in rapid eye movement (REM) latency, amount of REM or REM density was observed and agomelatine was well tolerated. In conclusion agomelatine improved sleep continuity and quality. It normalized the distribution of SWS sleep and delta power throughout the night.

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) has been used in order to introduce nanocrystalline grains within fully dense FeAl consolidated parts. Hetero-nanostructured parts, consisting of nano, ultrafine and micrometric grains, have been successfully processed when milled - Y2O3 reinforced - FeAl powder was used. The large temperature differences that are spontaneously generated during the SPS process as well as the use of milled powder account for the formation of such interesting structures. The grain size distribution - that is suggested to be very potent to improve both strength and ductility - could be significantly modified by a proper selection of sintering temperature and holding time.