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The article presents a biography of the French computer engineer and entrepreneur Jean Carteron. Details are given highlighting Carteron's prominent role within the computing industry of France and greater Europe during the 20th-century. Discussion is given outlining several period's of Carteron's life, including his young adult life in post-World War II France, his involvement with public-policy organizations, and his founding and leadership of the information technology company Steria.

L- and P-band airborne polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data acquired by the RAMSES system over different height maritime pine (Pinus Pinaster Ait.) stands of the Nezer forest (Landes, France) have been evaluated for forest biophysical parameter estimation. A pseudolinear correlation has been brought to evidence at P-band between polarimetric anisotropy and mean tree height, which is also linked to other biophysical parameters in the Nezer forest, meaning that SAR polarimetry constitutes a promising tool for forest parameter retrieval at low frequency. The spatial conditions have been evaluated through the quantification of the impact of signal-to-noise ratio diminution and resolution degradation on the forest height inversion. It has been shown that the inversion accuracy remains acceptable for N E σo, representing the noise level of the SAR image, which is lower than -- 15 dB, and for spatial resolution increasing up to 15 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent progresses in Bi2212 wires have proved its suitability for round wire developments and high field magnet insert manufacturing. In order to prepare cabling developments the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique at Saclay has developed in collaboration with the Nexans Company a Bi2212 wire having 18 sub-elements. The results of the critical current measurement are presented here and compared with already existing ribbons. The round wire has also been twisted to study twisting degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the contribution of IBM France La Gaude Laboratory to telecommunications. It indicates that IBM France has been working for 40 years in developing data communications, telephony, voice technologies and many more. It also explores the company's early history, technological background and data communications. In addition, it notes that the important contributions of La Guade Laboratory to telecommunications can be seen on the innovations it made on the various data communication products such as digital networks, modems and communication controllers.

Three-dimensional (3-D) silicon detectors are characterized by cylindrical electrodes perpendicular to the surface and penetrate into the bulk material in contrast to standard Si detectors with planar electrodes on the top and bottom. This geometry renders them particularly interesting to be used in environments where standard silicon detectors have limitations, such as, for example, the radiation environment expected in an upgrade to the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. For the first time, several 3-D sensors were assembled as hybrid pixel detectors using the ATLAS-pixel front-end chip and readout electronics. Devices with different electrode configurations have been characterized in a 100 GeV pion beam at the CERN SPS. Here, we report results on unirradiated devices with three 3-D electrodes per 50 x 400 μm² pixel area. Full charge collection is obtained already with comparatively low bias voltages around 10 V. Spatial resolution with binary readout is obtained as expected from the cell dimensions. Efficiencies of 95.9%±0.1% for tracks incident parallel to the electrodes and of 99.9%±0.1% for tracks incident at 15° are measured. The homogeneity and charge sharing of the efficiency over the pixel area are measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Event data from proton-proton collisions at the LHC will be selected by the ATLAS experiment in a three-level trigger system, which, at its first two trigger levels (LVL1+LVL2), reduces the initial bunch crossing rate of 40 MHz to ∼3 kHz. At this rate, the Event Builder collects the data from the readout system PCs (ROSs) and provides fully assembled events to the Event Filter (EF). The EF is the third trigger level and its aim is to achieve a further rate reduction to ∼200 Hz on the permanent storage. The Event Builder is based on a farm of 0(100) PCs, interconnected via a Gigabit Ethernet to O(150) ROSs. These PCs run Linux and multi-threaded software applications implemented in C++. All the ROSs, and substantial fractions of the Event Builder and Event Filter PCs have been installed and commissioned. We report on performance tests on this initial system, which is capable of going beyond the required data rates and bandwidths for Event Building for the ATLAS experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CMS experiment is expected to start data taking during 2008, and large data samples, of the Peta-bytes scale, will be produced each year. The CMS Physics Tools package provides the CMS physicist with a powerful and flexible software layer for analysis of these huge datasets that is well integrated in the CMS experiment software. C++ generic programming is used to allow simple extensions of analysis tools. A core part of this package is the Candidate Model providing a coherent interface to different types of data. Standard tasks such as combinatorial analyses, generic cuts, MC truth matching and constrained fitting are supported. Advanced template techniques enable the user to add missing features easily. We explain the underlying model, certain details of the implementation and present some use cases showing how the tools are currently used in generator and full simulation studies as preparation for analysis of real data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the performance of medium voltage cables and the effects of changes made to production methods. The problem of early breakdown caused by water trees was studied and various techniques for increasing the life time of cables were investigated. French, American and German companies prefer water tight construction, an additive water tree retardant (WTR) package and a polymer WTR. Real cable failure data for European utilities are presented. Failure rates include cable failures related to electrical breakdown.

Presents information on the Symposium on Electromagnetic Launch Technology sponsored by the U.S. Army in Saint-Louis, Paris, France on May 14 to 17, 2002. Speakers of the symposium; Papers selected for the Best Poster Presentation; Efforts of the U.S. Navy to launch aircraft from carriers.

A biography of Joseph Marie Jacquard, inventor of the Jacquard Loom, is presented. He was born in July 7, 1752 in Lyon, France. He was illiterate up to the age of 13. He married the widow Claudine Boichon on July 26, 1778. He inherited his father's workshop and was recognized as a bourgeois citizen of Lyons. He has achieved worldwide renown for the development of the Jacquard loom which creates intricately patterned fabrics via a loop of perforated cards perched atop the loom frame.

A biography of Jacques Vaucanson, a master creator of simulations and a brilliant creator of textile machinery, is presented. He was born in Grenoble, France in 1709. He was educated at the Oratory in Juilly from ages 8 to 12, at the Grenoble Jesuits from ages 12 to 14, and became a novice at the Minims of Lyons at age 16. He was then married in 1753 in Paris. It was his perforated-cylinder-controlled automatic loom that led to the creation of punched-card loom.

The capabilities and diversity of subsurface sediment sensors lags significantly from what is available for the water column, thereby limiting progress in understanding time-dependent seabed exchange and high-frequency acoustics. To help redress this imbalance, a new instrument, the autonomous sediment profiler (ASP), is described herein. ASP consists of a four-electrode, Wenner-type resistivity probe and a thermistor that log data at 0.1-cm vertical intervals over a 58-cm vertical profile. To avoid resampling the same spot on the seafloor, the probes are moved horizontally within a 20 x 100-cm² area in one of three preselected patterns. Memory and power capacities permit sampling at hourly intervals for up to 3-mo duration. The system was tested in a laboratory tank and shown to be able to resolve high-frequency sediment consolidation, as well as changes in sediment roughness. In a field test off the southern coast of France, the system collected resistivity and temperature data at hourly intervals for 16 d. Coupled with environmental data collected on waves, currents, and suspended sediment, the ASP is shown to be useful for understanding temporal evolution of subsurface sediment porosity, although no large depositional or erosional events occurred during the deployment. Following a rapid decrease in bottom-water temperature, the evolution of the subsurface temperature field was consistent with the 1-D thermal diffusion equation coupled with advection in the upper 3-4 cm. Collectively, the laboratory and field tests yielded promising results on time-dependent seabed change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detectors and electronics inside the ATLAS detector at the large hadron collider will be exposed to high fluxes of photons, charged particles, and neutrons. Damage caused by radiation will influence the performance of the detector. It will therefore be important to continuously monitor the radiation dose to follow the level of detector degradation. It will also be important to have information about the radiation field in the detector early in the life of the experiment in order to check the simulations and to correctly predict future radiation damage. An online radiation monitoring system with semiconductor radiation sensors will monitor the dose at several locations in the ATLAS detector. It will measure ionizing dose in SiO2 with RadFETs, displacement damage in silicon in terms of 1-Me V(Si) equivalent neutron fluence with p-i-n diodes and fluence of thermal neutrons from current gain degradation in dedicated bipolar transistors. The design of the system and its response to various types of radiation is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Altitude SEE Test European Platform" (ASTEP) is dedicated to real-time soft-error rate (SER) testing of semiconductor memories. The platform, located in the French Alps on the `Plateau de Bure" at 2552 m, has been operational since March 2006. This test facility includes a proprietary automatic test equipment specially designed for static memory (SRAM) testing and secured remote control operation via internet. First real-time SER measurements on 3.6 Gbit of SRAMs manufactured in CMOS 130 nm technology are reported, as well as the comparison between real-time and accelerated SER. Project perspectives for CMOS 65 nm SRAMs are finally reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power system reliability is at the core of the responsibilities entrusted to RTE, the French Transmission System operator. To detect events that provide information for system reliability, RTE uses preset criteria, grouped in a ‘Classification Scale of Significant System Events (ESS)’. These events are positioned on a scale consisting of seven levels. The document first presents the principles governing the classification of ESS. It then explains the changes that took place up to 2004, the year the scale was greatly revised, in particular to take better account of the impact of the power system's new players resulting from institutional developments in Europe. The classification scale ranking criteria are presented, as well as the analyses and processing carried out using the ESS as a basis. Finally, examples of ESS contribution to feedback and reliability audits are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mine burial field experiment was carried out on two sandy seafloors between January and April 2004 in the Bay of Brest, France. Burial recording mines (BRMs) were used to measure burial and mine orientation at 15-rain intervals. Sonar and bottom photographs were also used to characterize sediment morphology and mine burial. These observations are compared with the predictions of mine burial using the following three models: a momentary liquefaction model, a current-induced scour model, and a wave-induced scour model. Analysis combines mine burial data, sediment data, seabed observations, and hydrodynamic measurements. At the first site, "Rascas," the seabed dynamics are dominated by tides and river runoff. Almost no mine burial was measured during the experiment which is in agreement with predictions of mine burial models (current-induced scour and liquefaction). Dynamics at the second site, "Bertheaume," are driven by tides and ocean waves. A long storm lone week) and several swell events were experienced and significant mine burial was observed in conjunction with high significant waveheights. Mine burial models suggest that burial at "Bertheaume" was dominated by wave-induced scour rather than current-induced scour or momentary liquefaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the topics discussed at the 80th public meeting of the Computer Conservation Society on December 8, 2005 at London Science Museum in England is presented. The meeting focused on the history of French computing devices. It tackled calculating machines and punched cards like Pascal, the Arithmometer of Thomas de Colmar and tables of logarithms of de Prony's. It gave insights on the story of the French software industry which developed various mathematical tools. It also honored the Association for an Academy of Data Processing and Telematics for being responsible in preserving the computing heritage in France. The meeting featured the members of the Computer Conservation Society, Philippe Denoyelle and Hans Paufal, as speakers.

Provides information on the European Conference on Universal Multiservice Networks held on October 2-4, 2000 in Colmar, France. Topics discussed; Number of papers presented in the conference.

We present the results of a global irradiation test of full size triple-GEM detectors operated with a CF4-based gas mixture. This study has been performed in the framework of an R&D activity on detectors for the innermost region of the first muon station of the LHCb experiment. The prototypes have been irradiated at the Calliope facility of the ENEA-Casaccia with a high intensity 1.25 MeV gamma from a 60Co source. After the irradiation test the detectors' performances have been measured with X-rays and with a 3 GeV pion beam at CERN. A SEM analysis on several samples of the detectors has been performed to complete the understanding of the physical processes occurring in the GEM detector during the strong irradiation [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article describes some special streets in France where the city is literally alive with art and explores what it might mean for people to live in a world of artistic interactivity. The Festival Premier Contact is a breath of fresh air in a city whose multimedia environment is swamped with messages generated by the advertising industry. It also revives the tradition of public art at a time when new forms of expression are often tucked behind the screens of personal computers. Many of the works selected for the festival exemplify the Fluxus aesthetic. Yves Jeanneret and Emmanuel Souchier were among the first to analyze hyper-linked signs in conventional digital media. Florent Aziosmanoff's Chaperon Rouge transcends the art of image making by taking a leap into robotics. Dancer Michael Crös' contribution to the festival was built into a square tabletop, onto which he projected images of hands which crawl, face down. INSETS: Editor's Note;The Festival Premier Contact.

Focuses on epidaure, a research project in medical image analysis, simulation and robotics at the French Research Institute in Computer Science and Automatic Control. Three-dimensional segmentation and shape modeling; Approaches to registration of medical images; Modeling and analysis of cardiac motion.

Discusses the use of numerical models to study superconducting magnets at the Grenoble High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Grenoble, France. Solutions to design problems; Demand for high magnetic fields; Optimization process.

Describes the experience acquired in the fabrication and operation of detectors at the Institut Laue Langevin in Grenoble, France. Advantages and disadvantages of a microstrip gas chamber; Fabrication outlines of neuron gas detectors; How to improve the life time of a detector.

Presents information on a study which described the main characteristics of a Voltage Security Assessment (VSA) tool, a security management software redesigned by the company Electricite de France (EDF). Objectives of the EDF VSA project; Features of the tool; Integration of the VSA function in the existing grid analysis framework; Details on the experimental approach retained to achieve an operational tool.

Presents the Project Activity, Ecole Centrale de Lille (EC Lille), a French grande ecole or graduate engineering school that trains engineers who follow a wide variety of scientific and technical courses. Management of EC Lille; Goal represented by EC Lille in the training of students; Development of the system of monitoring set up.

Describes the hybrid magnet installed the Grenoble High Magnetic Field Laboratory in France. Capacity of the magnet; Magnet design; Fabrication technology; Optimization process of the 50 millimeter bore insert; Development of the 34 millimeter bore insert.

Provides information on a study which measured the angular power distribution at the mobile station in downtown Paris, France at 890 MHz. Assumption of stationary scatterers in the far-field and the narrow-band assumption; Advantages of the method to estimate the angle resolved impulse response; Two steps to validate the array processing algorithms and the data extraction procedure.

Highlights the IEEE EMBS International Summer School on Biomedical Imaging on June 19-27, 2004 in Berde Island, Brittany, France. Sponsor of the Summer School; Technical program; Lecturers.

This article presents a calendar of events, related to the telecommunication industry. SIP 2004--6th IASTED International, the conference on Signal and Image Processing, is to be held from August 23-25, 2004, in Hawaii. CSIMTA 2004--Complex Systems, intelligence and Modern Technology Applications, will be held from September 19-22, 2004, in France. Allerton Conference 2004--42nd Annual Allerton Conference on Communication, Control, and Computing, will be held from September 29- October 1, 2004, in France. ISITA 2004--International Symposium on Information Theory and Its Applications, will be held from October 10-13, 2004. ISSSE 2004--International Symposium on Signals, Systems, and Electronics, from August 10-13. SOFTCOM 2004--International Conference on Software, Telecommunications and Computer Networks, will be held from October 11-13, in Italy. WNCG 2004--Wireless Networking Symposium, from October 2004. NCSBB 2004--Technology for Life,--North Carolina Symposium on Biotechnology, from October 13-15, 2004, in North Carolina.

The article reports on the Ninth European Conference on Radiation and its Effects held in Deauville in the French Normandy on September 10-14, 2007. The conference was attended by 320 delegates from 21 countries all over the world. The technical program consisted of 38 oral and 62 poster presentations. There were 14 lecturers in the one-day short course organized by Veronique Ferlet-Cavrois. The contributions of the sponsors: NASA Living with a Star Program, Tektronix Enabling Innovation and Codra Ingeniere are acknowledged.

The article highlights the events during the 29th Annual International Conference of the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) held on August 25, 2007 in Lyon, France. More than 120 Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) graduate students and young professionals of the EMBS attended while those living in Region 8 attended the second annual IEEE EMBS-GOLD Networking Reception.

Maneuver acceleration constraints for formation flight path planning based on the leader-follower concept are proposed. First, a minimum maneuver radius is derived to restrict the excessive required velocity over the minimum or maximum value. Second, in order to prevent an abrupt velocity reduction, which may cause large formation errors, a velocity reduction slope is derived to avoid a reverse-thrust command. Finally, we propose a scheme to put these constraints on the leader's maneuver to obtain a feasible path plan for formation flight based on the leader-follower concept. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the highlights of 14th International Symposium on Electrets (ISE14) held in Montpellier, France on August 28-31, 2011. The event, which was preceded by a workshop titled Electrets and Related Phenomena in Life Science, had 10 invited speakers. The topics discussed include charge injection, transport and trapping, thermally stimulated current and dielectric relaxation and nanoscale measurements of electrostatic phenomena.

This issue of Events & Sightings covers the 50th Anniversary of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Compatible Time-Sharing System (CTSS). It also includes an obituary of Jean Carteron, an influential actor in the development of computing in France. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The International Campus of Excellence (ICE) program, promoted by the Ministry of Education of the Spanish Government, is working to improve the quality and excellence of the Spanish universities and their environments. Similar programs have been carried out in France (with the Op?ration Campus program) and Germany (with the Exzellenzinitiative program). All of them are based on additional funding for the best universities, with the intention of achieving excellence and more international presence. Another common characteristic of the three previous programs is that they consider reinforcing research activities, by supporting Ph.D. schools and research institutions, the key to achieving the proposed objectives. On the other hand, other multinational organizations, like the European Commission, have also promoted similar initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A calendar of international events for the Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA) in 2010 is presented, which includes the 8th International Conference on Formal Methods and Models for Codesign (MEMOCODE) in Grenoble, France from July 26 to 28, the 10th Formal Methods in Computer-Aided Design Conference (FMCAD) in Lugano, Switzerland from October 20 to 23, and the IEEE/ACM 2010 International Conference on Computer-Aided Design (ICCAD) in San Jose, California from November 7 to 11.

A calendar of events related to communications to be held in 2010 is presented including the IEEE 12th International Conference on e-Health Networking, Application & Services in Lyon, France from July 1 to 3, the 18th International Conference on Software, Telecommunications and Computer Networks in Split, Croatia from September 23 to 25 and the 2010 International Conference on Advanced Technologies for Communications in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from October 20 to 22.

Describes the distance learning approach used by the Georgia Institute of Technology's campus, Georgia Tech Lorraine, in Metz, France for electrical and mechanical engineering graduate programs. Use of videotapes in the delivery of the course programs; Disadvantages of using video tapes in delivering courses; Delivery of graduate electrical engineering courses in real-time.