Immunoassay for native enzyme quantification in biological samples

In order to detect low levels of enzyme activity, specifically glucose oxidase, in biological samples, an immunoenzymatic assay was developed since currently available methods could not be used because of either their lack of sensitivity or the conditions prevailing in our samples: turbidity of the medium, presence of redox systems other than glucose oxidase, and high concentration of proteins. The principle of the method is to coat a polystyrene surface with a fragment Fc-specific anti-IgG, then with an antibody directed against the looked-for enzyme, which is simultaneously the antigen and the enzyme activity required for immunoenzymatic detection. We applied this concept to biological samples after glucose oxidase administration to mice. This method achieves specificity and sensitivity (20 ng/mL or 1 ng) with samples of biological origin. No marker is needed since the antigen itself possesses an enzyme activity. This method, which requires a small sample volume (50 ΜL, 20 ΜL, if necessary), can be extended easily to the many enzymes currently used as markers. It could also be applied to the native enzymes of medical interest for which antibodies and a colorimetric reaction are available.     

Approximation of multi-scale elliptic problems using patches of finite elements

In this paper we present a method to solve numerically elliptic problems with multi-scale data using multiple levels of not necessarily nested grids. The method consists in calculating successive corrections to the solution in patches whose discretizations are not necessarily conforming. It resembles the FAC method (see Math. Comp. 46 (174) (1986) 439–456) and its convergence is obtained by a domain decomposition technique (see Math. Comp. 57 (195) (1991) 1–21). However it is of much more flexible use in comparison to the latter. To cite this article: R. Glowinski et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 337 (2003).     

Study of removal processes of <Superscript>7</Superscript>Be and <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs from the atmosphere

In order to understand better the way in which radioactive contamination may be transferred from the atmosphere to other ecological compartments it is necessary to obtain information of the deposition mechanisms of radionuclides. Concentration and speciation of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁷Be in the atmospheric aerosol and deposition were studied. The mixed deposition velocities of water-soluble and insoluble ¹³⁷Cs and ⁷Be were determined. The relation between activity concentrations of insoluble ⁷Be in the atmosphere and its amount in deposition was observed. It is supposed that in the deposition process of radiocesium the precipitation plays an important role in scavenging of water-soluble radiocesium by falling raindrops, in contrast to insoluble ¹³⁷Cs where the dry deposition becomes predominant.     

Analysis of end point vibrations of a two-link manipulator by integrated CAD/CAE procedures

In this work, the effect of flexibility on the trajectory of a planar two-link manipulator is studied using integrated computer-aided design/analysis (CAD/CAE) procedures. The solid models and finite element models of the parts of the manipulator are created by using the CAD/CAE software I-DEAS. The assembly is defined, and knowing the payload and the end point trajectory, the velocities and accelerations of the parts, joint forces and driving torques are calculated using the rigid body dynamics. All the time dependent nodal forces acting on the parts including distributed gravity and inertia forces are created in files with the I-DEAS program file format. The finite element vibration analysis of the parts is performed by I-DEAS. The end point vibrations and the deviations from the rigid-body trajectory are analyzed for different types of end point acceleration curves. A circular trajectory is considered as an example. It is observed that the precision of the manipulator can be increased by testing different end point acceleration curves without changing the trajectory and the duration of the end point work. The procedure explained in this work can be used for this purpose successfully.     

Analysis of the manufacturing lead time in a production system with non-renewal batch input,threshold policy and post-operation

In this paper, we analyze the manufacturing lead time in a production system with BMAP (Batch Markovian Arrival process) input and post-operation operated under the N-policy. We use the factorization principle to derive the waiting time distribution (hence the manufacturing lead time) and the mean performance measures. A numerical example is provided.     

Base-Catalyzed Reaction of Cyanoalkylphosphonates with Methanol

The equilibrium conversion of nitriles in the reaction of cyanoalkylphosphonates with methanol in the presence of sodium methylate, as determined by potentiometric titration with perchloric acid in nitromethane, varies from 58 to 17.7%. The practical yields of imidates were evaluated by a preparative procedure of isolation of purified imidates from the reaction mixtures (56-14%). Because of the low conversions of nitriles, the reaction is expedient to use only for preparing alkyl (dialkoxyphosphoryl)acetimidates.     

Rotational temperature and density measurements in a hypersonic flow by dual-line CARS

Rotational temperature and nitrogen number density are measured in the shock wave/boundary layer interaction region in the vicinity of a two-dimensional compression corner disposed in a low pressure, 55 K, Mach 10 hypersonic air flow. Spatially-resolved data are recorded using a nonlinear optical technique named dual-line coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (DLCARS). Averaged temperature and density profiles are compared with those predicted by a Navier-Stokes solver. Good agreement is found.