INFLUENCE OF WATER EXTRACTION METHODS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES ON MEASURED TRITIUM LEVEL

In order to validate the laboratory routine procedure of tritium activity concentration determination in tissue free water of environmental samples, parallel measurements were performed in water extracted from wild vegetation by two methods: azeotropic distillation and lyophilization (recommended by a French standard method). The sample humidity was established using the drying procedure to constant mass of the sample, and isotopic effect that may occur during lyophilization procedure was investigated by deuterium ratio determination in sample and extracted water. Traces of toluene in extracted water by azeotropic distillation made deuterium ration determination useless.

Analyzing the Newest Interchange Connection at Cairo Metro Network Pertaining to Passenger Flow

The French standard governing occupanckes dedicated for gatherings of individuals and institutions receiving the public, including railway stations and tunnels was used in the design of Cairo’s transit network, which consists of three lines connected through three existing interchange connections and one that is currently under construction. There is a lack of studies quantifying passenger evacuation in relation to Cairo transit, especially with regard to the interchange connections. This study assessed the viability of the evacuation methods applied to the design of interchange connections in Egypt. The emergency evacuation procedures for the future interchange connection layout between Lines 1 and 3 were assessed using the French standard and NFPA 130 Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems analytical methods. The analysis accounts for the traffic forecast as presented in the Egyptian company for operation and maintenance report for Line 1 and the feasibility study of Line 3. The results demonstrated that the connection was compliant with the French standard, but it did not fully meet NFPA requirements. It was concluded that there is still room for enhancement and for gaps to be considered. Recommendations include undertaking investigations into passenger characteristics and behavior in the context of passenger flow in emergency situations using approaches such as virtual research and field surveys, and simulation techniques.

Antimicrobial Resistant Salmonella Serotypes Circulating in Meat in Senegal

The Presence of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella in food remains a real threat. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella strains isolated from the most consumed types of meat in Senegal. A total of 337 samples were collected including 247 samples of raw meat and 90 of meat-based ready-made meals. Salmonella strains were isolated according to the French standard EN-ISO-6579 and serotyped according to the KWLM scheme. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed with 16 discs following the agar diffusion method. Our study showed that 37% of the samples carried Salmonella and allowed the isolation of 136 strains of Salmonella. We identified 47 different serotypes including S. Kentucky (11/136: 8%), S. Brancaster (10/136: 7%), S. Chester (10/136: 7%), S. Istanbul (5/136: 4 %), and S. Agona (5/136: 4%) which were respectively the most common. Of the 136 strains, 43 (31.6%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic, of which 15.4% (21/136) were multidrug-resistant. Interestingly, S. Kentucky that was the most common, exhibited also the highest level of resistance, being at least resistant to 8 antibiotics. In conclusion, The increasing resistance and spread of S. Kentucky in meat products demand special monitoring and to be further studied.

Thermal Characterisation and 3D Virtual Modelling of a Modern Timber-frame Small Scale House

This paper relates to a concrete sustainable development project. A small scale timber frame house (1/10 scale) has been designed, directly inspired by “Napevomo” house presented in solar decathlon challenge 2009. The building itself was already described in a previous paper. It has been manufactured according to the real strict and recent new French standard RT2012 which aims to improve the global thermal and environmental performances of the houses. Infrared imaging and temperature measurements are firstly detailed. Then, an equivalent thermal modelling of the small scale house is build. Global thermal behaviour under various conditions is simulated. Finally, results are compared to experiments thanks to a 3D VRML graphical visualisation, to validate the modelling.

Periodic Tests Improvement of Emergency Diesel Generator Units in Nuclear Power Plant

Domestic diesel-generator units of M310 reactor nuclear power plants at present adopt the French standard RCC-E 2005 emergency for periodic tests. During low-power periodic tests, the diesel-generators are not adequately protected, and there is a risk of serious damage to equipment. This article analyzes in detail the provisions of the IEEE 387 standard for the periodic tests of emergency diesel-generator unit, improves the periodic tests of the emergency diesel-generator unit according to the IEEE 387 standard, cancels the original low-power tests, and uses the test during the normal operation of the unit in order to solve this problem. The grid-connected test method and detailed analysis of the improved test content make the EDG periodic test method more economical and safe. The improvement has been approved by the nuclear safety regulatory agency, which provides an important reference for the related periodic test improvement of nuclear power plants.

Serotyping Isolated Strains of Salmonella for Consomption in the Eastern Logone Province in Chad

The present work was carried out in the Doba petroleum basin, Eastern Logone Province, and focused on the serotyping of strains of salmonella isolated in well water, boreholes and rivers for the consumption of the population. The sampling was carried out according to a complete randomized device with 10 samples per source of water, making a total of 30 samples. Salmonellae were detected according to the French standard ISO 6579: 2002, followed by serotyping. The results of the biochemical identification test of the API 20 E gallery led, thanks to the Apiweb Tm-API 20E V4.1 site to Salmonella spp. The serotyping results revealed, according to the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor table, serovars Anatum, Mbandaka and Idikan. S. Anatum was detected in P4 well waters and F6 wells; S. Mbandaka, in F9 and R8 river water; and finally, S. Idikan, in F5 and R4 river water. These results show a homogeneous distribution of these serotypes in the different water sources of the study area. The presence of these pathogenic serotypes in drinking water sources attests that these waters are unhealthy in accordance with WHO's guidelines for drinking quality. Corrective measures are needed to improve the quality of these water rich in germs that may cause food poisoning.

Application of the ‘CPT 2012’ model of AFNOR standard for column design in Poland – Jazowa case study

This paper presents the ‘CPT 2012’ model incorporated into the AFNOR NF P94-262:2012-07, French standard for pile design fully compatible with Eurocode 7, to the wider Polish audience. The bearing capacity of three reference columns for Vistula Marshlands have been calculated according to ‘CPT 2012’ model and AFNOR recommendations. Then, the design resistances have been compared with ultimate column bearing capacity measured during static load tests conducted on reference columns. The results of comparison are discussed and the discrepancies between measured and calculated bearing capacities are shortly commented.

Dislocations Gliding Study by IR Thermography in C-Mn Steels with Different Solute Atoms Content in the Gigacycle Fatigue Domain

Tests were performed on two Carbon-Manganese steels (A42 and A48 steels, French standard) in the gigacycle fatigue domain thanks to a piezoelectric fatigue machine working at 20000Hz. During the tests, temperature recordings were achieved by an infrared camera for various stress amplitudes. The main difference between the two steels compositions was the aluminum content (0.045% for the A42 steel and 0.004% for the A48 steel), and the carbon content (0.140% for the A 42 steel and 0.198% for the A48 steel). In the A48 steel, the few aluminum content induces a higher free content of solute nitrogen in the lattice. Mechanical spectroscopy tests were performed and gave qualitative results on the solute contents repartition in the lattice. The temperature increase recorded during the fatigue tests for the two steels are different at the beginning of the tests. The differences can be explained by the different repartition of the solute atoms which induces a different dislocation gliding between the two materials. At the end of the tests, the thermal recordings are similar and attributed to the evolution of the solute atoms repartition and the dislocation structure.