Multi-disciplinary investigation of the tomb of Menna (TT69), Theban Necropolis, Egypt

in Spectrochimica Acta Part A : Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy (2009), 73(3), 546-552

The archaeometrical survey of the tomb of Menna (TT69), which took place in November-December 2007, is part of the extended research program that aims to study and preserve this tomb in all its aspects ... [more ▼]

The archaeometrical survey of the tomb of Menna (TT69), which took place in November-December 2007, is part of the extended research program that aims to study and preserve this tomb in all its aspects. Menna was a high official who served as an overseer of Cadastral surveys during the reigns of pharaohs Tuthmosis IV and Amenhotep Ill (ca. 1419-1370 BC). The research team aimed to gather information, in a totally non-destructive way, on the materials used and the painting techniques. The technical examinations included photography with normal and raking light. macrophotography, ultra-violet (UV) fluorescence photography, and microscopy. On selected points X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was combined with diffuse reflectance UV-spectrometry, near infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The technical aspects as well as problems that are inherently associated with an interdisciplinary survey of this extent, are discussed. The project worked with a large team of people with different backgrounds and sensitive technical equipment. Working conditions were quite hostile, including elevated temperatures and dust hampering the examinations. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

A multi-epoch XMM-Newton campaign on the core of the massive Cygnus OB2 association

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2011), 536

Context. Cyg OB2 is one of the most massive associations of O-type stars in our Galaxy. Despite the large interstellar reddening towards Cyg OB2, many studies, spanning a wide range of wavelengths, have ... [more ▼]

Context. Cyg OB2 is one of the most massive associations of O-type stars in our Galaxy. Despite the large interstellar reddening towards Cyg OB2, many studies, spanning a wide range of wavelengths, have been conducted to more clearly understand this association. X-ray observations provide a powerful tool to overcome the effect of interstellar absorption and study the most energetic processes associated with the stars in Cyg OB2. <BR /> Aims: We analyse XMM-Newton data to investigate the X-ray and UV properties of massive O-type stars as well as low-mass pre-main sequence stars in Cyg OB2. <BR /> Methods: We obtained six XMM-Newton observations of the core of Cyg OB2. In our analysis, we pay particular attention to the variability of the X-ray bright OB stars, especially the luminous blue variable candidate Cyg OB2 #12. <BR /> Results: We find that X-ray variability is quite common among the stars in Cyg OB2. Whilst short-term variations are restricted mostly to low-mass pre-main sequence stars, one third of the OB stars display long-term variations. The X-ray flux of Cyg OB2 #12 varies by 37%, over timescales from days to years, whilst its mean log L[SUB]X[/SUB]/L[SUB]bol[/SUB] amounts to - 6.10. <BR /> Conclusions: These properties suggest that Cyg OB2 #12 is either an interacting-wind system or displays a magnetically confined wind. Two other X-ray bright O-type stars (MT91 516 and CPR2002 A11) display variations that suggest they are interacting wind binary systems. Based on observations collected with XMM-Newton, an ESA Science Mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and the USA (NASA).Full Table 2 and Table 4 are only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via <A href="http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/536/A31">http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/536/A31</A> [less ▲]

Multi-frequency nonlinear energy transfer from linear oscillators to mdof essentially nonlinear attachments

in Journal of Sound & Vibration (2005), 285(1-2), 483-490

We report on multi-frequency energy transfer from a two-mode, initially excited linear system to a multi-degree-of-freedom (mdof) essentially nonlinear attachment. This occurs through simultaneous ... [more ▼]

We report on multi-frequency energy transfer from a two-mode, initially excited linear system to a multi-degree-of-freedom (mdof) essentially nonlinear attachment. This occurs through simultaneous resonance interactions of both linear modes with a set of nonlinear normal modes (NNMs) of the attachment, and is studied utilizing numerical wavelet transforms. The multi-frequency nonlinear energy transfer discussed herein differs from multi-frequency energy transfer caused by resonance capture cascading where sequential energy transfer from a set of linear modes to single-dof nonlinear attachments takes place. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Multi-Group Pesticide Measurements in Bees and Related Products by On-Column LLE and GC- or LC-MS/MS

Conference (2006, November)

Multi-Harmonic Modelling of Motional Magnetic Field Problems using a Hybrid Finite Element--Boundary Element Discretisation

in Journal of Computational & Applied Mathematics (2004), 168

Multi-level dynamic state estimation for electric power systems

in Proceedings of the 8th Power System Computation Conference (PSCC) (1984)

The multi-ligand somatostatin analogue SOM230 inhibits ACTH secretion by cultured human corticotroph adenomas via somatostatin receptor type 5.

in European Journal of Endocrinology (2005), 152(4), 645-654

Objective: Currently, there is no effective medical treatment for patients with pituitary-dependent Cushing’s disease. A novel somatostatin (SS) analogue, named SOM230, with high binding affinity to SS ... [more ▼]

Objective: Currently, there is no effective medical treatment for patients with pituitary-dependent Cushing’s disease. A novel somatostatin (SS) analogue, named SOM230, with high binding affinity to SS receptor subtypes sst1, sst2, sst3 and sst5 was recently introduced. We compared the in vitro effects of the sst2-preferring SS analogue octreotide (OCT) and the multi-ligand SOM230 on ACTH release by human and mouse corticotroph tumour cells. Methods: By quantitative RT-PCR the sst subtype expression level was determined in human corticotroph adenomas. In vitro, the inhibitory effect of OCT and SOM230 on ACTH release by dispersed human corticotroph adenoma cells and mouse AtT20 corticotroph adenoma cells was determined. In addition, the influence of dexamethasone on the responsiveness to OCT and SOM230 was studied. Results: Corticotroph adenomas expressed predominantly sst5 mRNA (six out of six adenomas), whereas sst2 mRNA expression was detected at significantly lower levels. In a 72 h incubation with 10 nmol/l SOM230, ACTH release was inhibited in three out of five cultures (range –30 to –40%). Ten nmol/l OCT slightly inhibited ACTH release in only one of five cultures (– 28%). In AtT20 cells, expressing sst2, sst3 and sst5, SOM230 inhibited ACTH secretion with high potency (IC50 0.2 nmol/l). Dexamethasone (10 nmol/l) pre-treatment did not influence the sensitivity of the cells to the inhibitory effect of SOM230, suggesting that sst5 is relatively resistant to negative control by glucocorticoids. Conclusions: The selective expression of sst5 receptors in corticotroph adenomas and the preferential inhibition of ACTH release by human corticotroph adenoma cells by SOM230 in vitro, suggest that SOM230 may have potential in the treatment of patients with pituitary-dependent Cushing’s disease. [less ▲]

Multi-Months Cycles Observed in Climatic Data

in Simard, Suzanne (Ed.) Climate Change and Variability (2010)

Climatic variations happen at all time scales and since the origins of these variations are usually of very complex nature, climatic signals are indeed chaotic data. The identification of the cycles ... [more ▼]

Climatic variations happen at all time scales and since the origins of these variations are usually of very complex nature, climatic signals are indeed chaotic data. The identification of the cycles induced by the natural climatic variability is therefore a knotty problem, yet the knowing of these cycles is crucial to better understand and explain the climate (with interests for weather forecasting and climate change projections). Due to the non-stationary nature of the climatic time series, the simplest Fourier-based methods are inefficient for such applications (see e.g. Titchmarsh (1948)). This maybe explains why so few systematic spectral studies have been performed on the numerous datasets allowing to describe some aspects of the climate variability (e.g. climatic indices, temperature data). However, some recent studies (e.g. Matyasovszky (2009); Paluš & Novotná (2006)) show the existence of multi-year cycles in some specific climatic data. This shows that the emergence of new tools issued from signal analysis allows to extract sharper information from time series. Here, we use a wavelet-based methodology to detect cycles in air-surface temperatures obtained from worldwide weather stations, NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, climatic indices and some paleoclimatic data. This technique reveals the existence of universal rhythms associated with the periods of 30 and 43 months. However, these cycles do not affect the temperature of the globe uniformly. The regions under the influence of the AO/NAO indices are influenced by a 30 months period cycle, while the areas related to the ENSO index are affected by a 43 months period cycle; as expected, the corresponding indices display the same cycle. We next show that the observed periods are statistically relevant. Finally, we consider some mechanisms that could induce such cycles. This chapter is based on the results obtained in Mabille & Nicolay (2009); Nicolay et al. (2009; 2010). [less ▲]

Multi-national, multi-cultural and multi-levelled Brussels: national and ethnic politics in the "Capital of Europe"

Book published by The Transnational Communities Programme, University of Oxford (1999)

Multi-party Arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules

Conference given outside the academic context (2008)