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International audience; With their advanced mechatronics, myoelectric upper-limb prostheses now have many motion possibilities. Yet, the latter are not fully employed because of the inconvenient control and prostheses wearers often use their device as a rigid tool while achieving hand positioning and orientation with compensatory movements. In this paper, we propose to take advantage of this natural human behaviour to control prosthesis motions: the user is in charge of the end-effector while the devices role is to correct the human posture when necessary. We here apply this concept to control a prosthetic wrist pronosupination. A Rolyan clothespin test performed by two transradial amputees shows that the proposed control is as efficient as myoelectric control while requiring no learning.

This article presents the design of a gain-scheduled 4-loop autopilot for the nonlinear pitch dynamics of a tail-controlled highly agile missile. The missile's nonlinear flight dynamics and the procedure for obtaining an accurate linearized model across the system's flight envelope are dully explained. Autopilot design specifications are systematically translated into hard and soft tuning goals and the resulting multi-model/multi-objective problem is solved using commercially available nonsmooth optimization tools. The performance and robustness of the flight control laws are then studied in simulation both in a linear and nonlinear context.

Underground storage tanks used for auto oil spill waste contain many hazardous materials, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) trace elements. These compounds pose a significant threat...

The present study addresses toxicological properties of metal contaminated soils, using glassworks sites in south-easternl Sweden as study objects. Soil from five selected glassworks sites as well as from nearby reference areas were analysed for total and water-soluble metal concentrations and general geochemical parameters. A battery of biotests was then applied to assess the toxicity of the glassworks soil environments: a test of phytotoxicity with garden cress (Lepidium sativum); the BioTox(TM) test for toxicity to bacteria using Vibrio fischeri; and analyses of abundancies and biomass of nematodes and enchytraeids. The glassworks-and reference areas were comparable with respect to pH and the content of organic matter and nutrients (C, N, P), but total metal concentrations (Pb, As, Ba, Cd and Zn) were significantly higher at the former sites. Higher metal concentrations in the water-soluble fraction were also observed, even though these concentrations were low compared to the total ones. Nevertheless, toxicity of the glassworks soils was not detected by the two ex situ tests; inhibition of light emission by V. fischeri could not be seen, nor was an effect seen on the growth of L. sativum. A decrease in enchytraeid and nematode abundance and biomass was, however, observed for the landfill soils as compared to reference soils, implying in situ toxicity to soil-inhabiting organisms. The confirmation of in situ bioavailability and negative effects motivates additional studies of the risk posed to humans of the glassworks villages. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.

We investigated the potential for petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation by 95 bacterial and 160 fungal strains isolated from a former petrochemical plant. We tested whether soil origin, culture media type, and strain taxonomy influenced the degradation of added petroleum hydrocarbon compounds. Preliminary screening was based on two colorimetric tests using 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and p-iodonitrotetrazolium indicators, to assess microbial strain tolerance to crude oil. Top-performing strains in these screening assays were then assessed for their ability to mineralize a mixture of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) for 49 days, using GC-MS quantification. The aerobic activity of these candidate strains was also assessed by respirometry over the first 24 days of incubation. On average, PAH degradation by microbial isolates from soil that was lightly, moderately, and highly contaminated with petroleum was equally efficient, and the type of culture medium used did not significantly impact mean biodegradation. Phylogenetic affiliation had a strong and significant effect on PAH biodegradation. Fungal isolates belonging to the group Sordariomycetes, and bacterial isolates belonging to the groups Actinobacteria , Betaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria showed high potential for PAH degradation. Three of the strains tested by GC-MS, Rhodococcus sp., Trichoderma tomentosum , and Fusarium oxysporum, significantly degraded all four PAH compounds in the mixture compared to the control.

The present research studies the characterisation and the physico-chemical properties of an excavated fine fraction (10 mm) from a Swedish landfill, the Högbytorp. The results showed that the fine fraction represents 38% by mass of the total excavated wastes and it contains mainly soil-type materials and minerals. Higher concentrations of zinc, copper, barium and chromium were found with concentrations higher than the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for contaminated soil. The found moisture and organic contents of the fine fraction were 23.5% and 16.6%, respectively. The analysed calorific value (1.7 MJ kg

International audience; Several Gentle Remediation Options (GRO), e.g., plant-based options (phytoremediation), singly and combined with soil amendments, can be simultaneously efficient for degrading organic pollutants and either stabilizing or extracting trace elements (TEs). Here, a 5-month greenhouse trial was performed to test the efficiency of Medicago sativa L., singly and combined with a compost addition (30% w/w), to treat soils contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC), Co and Pb collected at an auto scrap yard. After 5 months, total soil Pb significantly decreased in the compost-amended soil planted with M. sativa, but not total soil Co. Compost incorporation into the soil promoted PHC degradation, M. sativa growth and survival, and shoot Pb concentrations [3.8 mg kg(-1) dry weight (DW)]. Residual risk assessment after the phytoremediation trial showed a positive effect of compost amendment on plant growth and earthworm development. The O2 uptake by soil microorganisms was lower in the compost-amended soil, suggesting a decrease in microbial activity. This study underlined the benefits of the phytoremediation option based on M. sativa cultivation and compost amendment for remediating PHC- and Pb-contaminated soils.

International audience; A pilot scale experiment was conducted to investigate the aided-phytoextraction of metals and the aided-phytodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) in a co-contaminated soil. First, this soil was amended with compost (10% w/w) and assembled into piles (Unp-10%C). Then, a phyto-cap of Medicago sativa L. either in monoculture (MS-10%C) or co-cropped with Helianthus annuus L. as companion planting (MSHA-10%C) was sown on the topsoil. Physico-chemical parameters and contaminants in the soil and its leachates were measured at the beginning and the end of the first growth season (after five months). In parallel, residual soil ecotoxicity was assessed using the plant species Lepidium sativum L. and the earthworm Eisenia fetida Savigny, 1826, while the leachate ecotoxicity was assessed using Lemna minor L. After 5months, PH C10-C40, PAH-L, PAH-M PAH-H, Pb and Cu concentrations in the MS-10%C soil were significantly reduced as compared to the Unp-10%C soil. Metal uptake by alfalfa was low but their translocation to shoots was high for Mn, Cr, Co and Zn (transfer factor (TF) >1), except for Cu and Pb. Alfalfa in monoculture reduced electrical conductivity, total organic C and Cu concentration in the leachate while pH and dissolved oxygen increased. Alfalfa co-planting with sunflower did not affect the extraction of inorganic contaminants from the soil, the PAH (M and H) degradation and was less efficient for PH C10-C40 and PAH-L as compared to alfalfa monoculture. The co-planting reduced shoot and root Pb concentrations. The residual soil ecotoxicity after 5months showed a positive effect of co-planting on L. sativum shoot dry weight (DW) yield. However, high contaminant concentrations in soil and leachate still inhibited the L. sativum root DW yield, earthworm development, and L. minor growth rate.

Underground storage tanks uses for waste cars draining contain many hazardous materials including hydrocarbons. These compounds pose a significant threat to the environment and affect negatively the health of living. Phytoremediation is an environmental friendly method used during the last few decades to eliminating organics pollutants from soil, sediment and water. The remediation capability of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) to treat petroleum-contaminated soil from an old car scrap yard in Nybro, Sweden was further investigated using greenhouse pot-scale experiments. After five months, alfalfa survival capacity and dry biomass were significantly lower in contaminated soil (CS) in comparison to non-contaminated soil (NCS). Only 5% of plants survived in CS and petroleum hydrocarbon C10-C50 content in planted treatment were not statistically lower in comparison to the unplanted treatment. Further studies are in process to evaluate the possible degradation of hydrocarbons using organic amendment

Old landfill sites contain different hazardous materials like heavy metals which have the ability to affects the entire environment. These places are sometimes covered by plants to increase the stability of the soil and to reduce the effects of erosion. 15 soil samples (3 samples from each place) and 5-7 timothy-grass (Phleum pretense) plants from 5 different places were taken from an old landfill place in an active landfill site in Högbytorp /Sweden owned by Ragn-sells Group Company. XRF scanning was used to analyze the metal content of soil samples and of plants. High concentrations of metals were detected in the soil samples like Fe with an average of about 25000 ppm, Mn about 250 ppm and 2800 ppm of Ti. The plants results showed an average concentration of Fe in the shoots about 730 ppm, Mn about 60 ppm and Ti about 1760 ppm. On the other hand, the roots results showed an average concentration of about 10 000 ppm of Fe, about 160 ppm of Mn and 2200 ppm of Ti. These results gave the indication that the Timothy-grass has the ability to extract metals from contaminated soils and can help to cleanup these soils.

La Presse Medicale - In Press.Proof corrected by the author Available online since mercredi 26 fevrier 2014

Aided phytostabilization of a Cu-contaminated soil was conducted at a wood preservation site located in southwest France using outdoor lysimeters to study leaching from the root zone and leachate ecotoxicity. The effects of Cu-tolerant plants ( Agrostis gigantea L. and Populus trichocarpa x deltoides cv. Beaupre) and four amendments were investigated with seven treatments: untreated soil without plants (UNT) and with plants (PHYTO), and planted soils amended with compost (OM, 5% per air-dried soil weight), dolomitic limestone (DL, 0.2%), Linz–Donawitz slag (LDS, 1%), OM with DL (OMDL), and OM with 2% of zerovalent iron grit (OMZ). Total Cu concentrations (mg kg − 1 ) in lysimeter topsoil and subsoil were 1110 and 111–153, respectively. Lysimeter leachates collected in year 3 were characterized for Al, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, K and Zn concentrations, free Cu ions, and pH. Total Cu concentration in leachates (mg L − 1 ) ranged from 0.15 ± 0.08 (LDS) to 1.95 ± 0.47 (PHYTO). Plants grown without soil amendment did not reduce total Cu and free Cu ions in leachates. Lemna minor L. was used to assess the leachate phytotoxicity, and based on its growth, the DL, LDS, OM and OMDL leachates were less phytotoxic than the OMZ, PHYTO and UNT ones. The LDS leachates had the lowest Cu, Cu 2+ , Fe, and Zn concentrations, but L. minor developed less in these leachates than in a mineral water and a river freshwater. Leachate Mg concentrations were in decreasing order OMDL > DL > PHYTO = OM = LDS > UNT = OMZ and influenced the duckweed growth.